Hawaii Grown Report: College Athletics
Billy Hull
|
Bonk turns heads at Pacific University
It hasn't taken
Max Bonk (Hawaii Prep '07) long to accomplish something Pacific University hasn't seen in 15 years.
The freshman golfer became the first Boxer medalist in a major Northwest Conference tournament since 1993 by winning the NWC Spring Classic on Sunday.
Bonk opened with a 1-under 71 in conditions that featured everything from wind to sleet to snow. Better conditions helped Bonk shoot a second-round 70 to finish the tournament 3 under and earn him a spot on the All-NWC men's golf team.
"Max had a great run this weekend. Shooting 3 under par considering the weather conditions is a great score," Pacific coach Richard Warren said in a release. "Max has started getting accustomed to the weather and I expect him to start playing at this level on a more consistent basis. Pacific golf fans should be excited about what this young man can do on the golf course and for the program."
He earned the NWC player of the week award for his performance and helped the Boxers move into a three-way tie for first place in the conference.
In three tournaments in 2008, Bonk has two firsts and a third. The Boxers will try to win their first conference title in 15 years at the NWC championships April 19 and 20.
» Portland sophomore Thomas Robertson (King Kekaulike '06) just missed a top-20 finish with a final round even-par 72 to finish tied for 21st in the Oregon Invitational. Oregon freshman Sean Maekawa (Honokaa '07) finished tied for 46th place.
WOMEN'S GOLF
» Willamette junior
Whitney Ueno (Hilo '05) won her second straight tournament when she took home medalist honors in the Northwest Conference Spring Classic. Pacific freshman
Valerie Kitamori (Waiakea '07) finished tied for eighth place and sophomore
Jasmine Ching (Waiakea '06) tied for 10th.
» Idaho senior Kelly Nakashima (Baldwin '04) shot a final round 75 to win the Inland Cup Tournament. Nakashima finished in a tie for first, but was awarded the championship after winning a scorecard playoff. A playoff hole could not be played due to darkness.
BASEBALL
» Sacramento State senior
Taylor Watanabe (Aiea '03) played in three games and went 5-for-14 with two RBIs and a stolen base as the Hornets swept a four-game series against Hawaii. Backup catcher
Brett Tanigawa (Moanalua '03) started the second game and went 1-for-4.
» Kansas sophomore lefthander Wally Marciel (Iolani '06) tossed three hitless innings and struck out five while walking two in a 13-0 shutout of Saint Mary's (Calif.). Marciel improved to 2-4 and has a 7.50 ERA.
» Southern Utah junior Keli'i Zablan (Saint Louis '05) went 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs and Chester Wilson (Saint Louis '05) had three hits and drove in four runs as the Thunderbirds romped past Brigham Young 18-6 on Wednesday. Nick Freitas (Kamehameha '05) scored three times and Bucky Aona (Punahou '06) was 1-for-2 with two runs for Southern Utah. Cougars first baseman Kasey Ko (Punahou '05) went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
» Claremont-Mudd-Scripps first baseman Andrew Blomberg (Moanalua '05) went 3-for-7 with a double, home run, four runs and three RBIs in a doubleheader against Chapman University. Sophomore Travis Nishioka (Iolani '06) had a hit and scored two runs.
SOFTBALL
» Brigham Young senior
Emi Willing (Kamehameha '04) went 2-for-4 with an RBI in a 7-0 shutout of Utah Valley. Willing is 5-for-13 over her last three games with two runs and two RBIs.
» Cal State Bakersfield senior Pikake Nutter-Gaudet (Leilehua '04) drilled her third home run of the season and had three RBIs in a doubleheader sweep of Santa Clara. Broncos' junior first baseman Noelani Hoopii (Kamehameha '05) had two hits and scored a run.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
» Stanford sophomore
Kawika Shoji (Iolani '06) had 39 assists and nine digs and freshman
Spencer McLachlin (Punahou '07) had 10 kills in a loss to Pepperdine.
Jordan Inafuku (Kamehameha '06) chipped in four digs and two assists. Waves junior
Eric Liebert (Punahou '04) did not play against the Cardinal, but had three kills in five attempts one night later in a five-game victory over Pacific.