Kono medals in match
play qualifier

Stephanie Kono's roller-coaster round was still good enough to earn her medalist honors yesterday at the Hawaii State Women's Golf Association Match Play Championship qualifier at Oahu Country Club.

Kono had two eagles and a birdie on the front nine, but came back with three bogeys on the back nine to finish at par 73.

Tied for second at 79 were Desiree Ting and Merynn Ito. Last year's runner-up Bev Kim, the only previous champion in the field, was fifth at 83.

First-round match play began this morning. The tournament continues through Friday's final.

NFL's Ulbrich, Naeole expected at clinic

Former University of Hawaii football player Jeff Ulbrich, now with the San Francisco 49ers, and Kahuku High School product Chris Naeole, a lineman with the New Orleans Saints, are among the NFL players expected to participate at the Aloha Airlines Maverick Football Clinic this Saturday and Sunday at Iolani School.

The clinic, which brings two players from each of the state's high schools to work with NFL players, runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Activities open to the public include a "Fan Combine Challenge'' on Saturday with a 40-yard dash and obstacle course.

Other players participating St. Louis graduate Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and quarterback Tee Martin of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Donnie Edwards and Larry Atkins of the Kansas City Chiefs.

For more information, call Parents and Children Together (PACT) at 847-3285, or Greg Andrasick at 386-3153.

Basketball in Paradise opens play tomorrow

The 3rd Annual Basketball in Paradise, a tournament featuring high school teams from Hawaii and the mainland, opens tomorrow with 10 girls games and three boys games at various sites.

Girls teams include Pearl City, Leilehua, Waianae, Roosevelt, Hawaii Select, Maui, Campbell, Hawaii Senior Select, California and Ohio. Games run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Leilehua and Roosevelt, and Thursday at Leilehua and Campbell.

Friday's elimination round is at Campbell while Saturday's play is at Kalaheo. The championship game is at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Boys teams competing are the Hawaii Raiders, Hawaii All-Stars, Iolani and three teams from Oklahoma. Tomorrow's games at Iolani Gym run from 6-9 p.m. The championship game is at 3 p.m. Saturday at Iolani.

The event is sponsored by the Hawaii Winter Baseball Foundation. There is no admission charge.

Murashige, Kohler top HSJGA Jr. Tour series

Kira-Ann Murashige and Ryan Kohler won their respective flights at the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association's Junior Tour Series opener yesterday at Hapuna Golf Course on the Big Island.

Murashige won a tiebreaker with Rie Ganir in the girls 15-18 division while Kohler, of San Diego, also won on a tiebreaker over Daniel Ciez in the boys' 15-18 division.

The next tour stop is July 7 at the Koolau Golf Club.

Hawaii's Own

Benny Agbayani, Mets: The St. Louis and Hawaii Pacific alumnus went 1-for-3 in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Agbayani struck out swinging twice agaisnt Chicago starter Julian Tavarez, who pitched seven innings for the win.

Agbayani reached on an infield single in the fifth off Tavarez, but was stranded when Rey Ordonez was out at second in a fielder's choice, the result of an Al Leiter grounder to shortstop.

The first strikeout came in the second and resulted in a double play when Mark Johnson was caught stealing. The second strikeout was the first out of the seventh inning.

Jay Spurgeon, Orioles: The former University of Hawaii pitcher did not pitched in Baltimore's 8-2 win over Toronto. Spurgeon was recently recalled from Triple-A Rochester of the International League.

Mike Fetters, Dodgers: The Iolani School alumnus was put on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 20, on Sunday because of a cervical spasm in his neck.