Monaghan gets into Pearl Open

Mike Monaghan, a 24-year-old pro from Colorado, carded a 1-under 71 to lead a group of 28 qualifiers for this week's 31st Pearl Open.

Monaghan was the only golfer to break par on the Pearl Country Club course, where wet and windy conditions hampered play for the 66 non-exempt pros and amateurs. Two amateurs—16-year-old Brett Komoto of Honolulu and Washington's Kyle Wesolowski—posted second-best scores of 74.

Play begins with tomorrow's pro-am, with the first round of the 54-hole event on Friday. The field will be cut to 72 for the final two rounds.

Among those entered is 19-year-old Kumiko Kaneda, the World Junior champion from Japan, who is playing in her first men's tournament.

Azuma Yano of Japan is the defending champion.

CHIP SHOTS

Woods to play a round with Obama

Tiger Woods said he's looking forward to returning to the PGA Tour, the birth of his second child and a round of golf with President Barack Obama.

Woods, who hasn't played competitive golf since undergoing knee surgery in June, said on his Web site that he's going “;full-bore”; in practice sessions with coach Hank Haney at Isleworth Country Club near his home in Orlando, Fla.

Woods, 33, hasn't said when he might return to action and that his comeback is dependent on building stamina and when his wife Elin gives birth to the couple's second child, which is due this month. The Masters, the first major tournament of the season, is scheduled for April 9-12 in Augusta, Ga.

“;A lot depends on the baby, which is due pretty soon,”; Woods, the world's No. 1 golfer, said in his newsletter. “;That takes precedent over anything I do golf-wise.”;

Woods, who in October said he was “;very confident”; about playing at the Masters, is getting excited about returning.

“;Early on, I didn't miss golf because I enjoyed staying home with Elin and (daughter) Sam, and I knew I wasn't physically able to play,”; Woods said. “;The truth is, I would have embarrassed myself. Now, I'm getting my feel and practice back. It's just a matter of playing more on the course.”;

PACWEST PLACE

HPU snaps 4-game losing streak

Hawaii Pacific ended its four-game losing streak, downing Grand Canyon 78-65 last night in a PacWest men's basketball game at Blaisdell Arena.

The Sea Warriors improved to 8-9 overall, 2-5 PWC. The 'Lopes dropped to 10-9 and 3-3.

» In the earlier women's game, Grand Canyon (9-2, 6-0) won its ninth straight when defeating Hawaii Pacific (6-3, 5-2). Score unavailable.

» Brigham Young-Hawaii senior forward Latoya Wily was named the PacWest player of the week in women's basketball, the fourth time this season for the Kahuku High graduate.

Wily averaged 24 points and 9.5 rebounds in last week's wins over Chaminade and Academy of Art.

» The Brigham Young-Hawaii men's basketball team, riding a 12-game winning streak, remained at No. 4 in yesterday's NABC Division II poll

The Seasiders, 15-1 overall and 6-0 in the PacWest, received 177 points, a new high for the program. The ranking is also the highest.

BYUH remained No. 1 in the West Regional rankings.

HPU sweeps Biola in baseball

Lester Akeo doubled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for the winning run as Hawaii Pacific edged Biola 7-6 in the first game of a baseball doubleheader at Hans L'Orange Field yesterday.

In the nightcap, HPU scored three in the bottom of the sixth, using two singles and a wild pitch to pull out a 6-4 win. The Sea Warriors improved to 4-0 while the Eagles dropped to 0-4.

In the opener, Akeo's shot down the right-field line scored Cheynne Hirota from first to break a 6-6 tie. The Sea Warriors trailed 6-4 before scoring two in the third.

Seasiders top Sea Warriors in golf

Led by medalist Derek Hall, Brigham Young-Hawaii defeated Hawaii Pacific 314 to 316 in the first spring men's golf match yesterday at Ewa Beach Golf Club.

Hall carded a 4-over 76 to lead the field.