Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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The Dean of Golf
PGA golfer Dean Wilson was honored yesterday by Mayor Mufi Hannemann with the Honolulu Hero Award at a ceremony at the Pali Golf Course.
Hannemann praised Wilson, a Castle High graduate, for his determination and perseverance in earning his tour card and winning The International in Colorado.
In addition to his victory at The International, Wilson had six top-10 finishes and was 22nd on the PGA money list.
Mariano, Chin earn Sony Open spots in playoff
Abe Mariano and Dave Chin both parred the first playoff hole at yesterday's Aloha Section PGA Member-Only qualifying tournament at Waialae Country Club to earn two spots in next month's Sony Open in Hawaii.
Mariano, out of Pure Golf Academy & Fitting Center, and Navy-Marine's Chin tied with last year's qualifier David Ishii at 1-under 71 after regulation. Ishii, of Pearl Country Club, lost his ball on his drive on the playoff hole and finished with a bogey.
A third qualifying spot has been given to Aloha Section PGA player of the year Kevin Hayashi.
The fourth spot was earned by Hawaii amateur Tadd Fujikawa, who had the low score of the qualifying round, a 5-under 67.
Kim given SBS Open sponsor's exemption
Kimberly Kim, the Big Island golfer who became the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur title last summer, has been granted a sponsor's exemption to play in the SBS Open at Turtle Bay, Feb. 12-17.
Kim, who currently resides in Arizona, will be playing for the first time in an LPGA event. Also in the field is defending champion Joo Mi Kim and LPGA Player of the Year Lorena Ochoa.
The event has a purse of $1.1 million, with $165,000 going to the winner. The Web site is www.sbsopen.com.
Vulcans topple Boll Weevils in overtime
Michael Martin scored 11 of Hawaii-Hilo's 15 points in overtime to lead the Vulcans over Arkansas-Monticello 83-72 in a nonconference basketball game at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium yesterday.
Martin finished with a game-high 33 points for UHH (3-7), and Justin Dobson added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Boll Weevils (4-3) were led by Nate Newell's 25 points.
» Hanna Hull scored 29 points to lead Central Washington to a 75-73 win over Brigham Young-Hawaii last night in Laie.
Latoya Wily led BYUH with 18 points.
Swanson seventh in World University judo
Honolulu's Melinda Swanson finished seventh in the over-78kg division of Sunday's World University Judo Championships in Suwon, Korea.
Swanson, a University of Hawaii student, went 1-2 in her matches and was the highest American finisher.