Rookie Munro
tops Occhilupo

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil >> Trent Munro, ranked No. 41 in the world, made history yesterday by defeating fellow Australian and 1999 ASP world champion Mark Occhilupo to win the final of the Rio Surf International.

In only his third event on the World Championship Tour (WCT), he became the fastest rookie to claim victory, collecting $30,000 and 13th position in the ratings.

Munro eliminated many of the top-rated surfers during earlier rounds, including 16th-ranked Andy Irons of Kauai.

Munro played the final against Occhilupo like a seasoned professional, taking his time to wait for the superior waves. By the midpoint through the 35-minute decider he'd created a strong lead.

Metzger and Wong advance in Norway

Second-seeded Stein Metzger and Kevin Wong of Hawaii won two matches yesterday, advancing in the $180,000 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event in Stavanger, Norway.

Metzger of Honolulu and Wong of Pearl City, representing the U.S., beat Pierre Chamberland and Emmanuel Loeub of Canada, 21-11, 21-11. Metzger and Wong then defeated Bartosz Bachorski and Janusz Bulkowski of Poland, 21-14, 21-17.

Also, Danalee Bragado of Honolulu is teaming with Ali Wood in another FIVB event, as the women opened play today in the Canary Islands.

Miranda hangs on to win another rodeo event

Hilo's Dusty Miranda bested one of the rankest bulls in the islands, scoring 79 points in an eight-second ride, to win the Fourth of July Barrels and Bulls rodeo at New Town and Country Stables yesterday.

Bully Wooly shot into the ring bucking and spinning but the 27-year-old Miranda held fast. Miranda's second ride, on the 1,000-pound plus bull Play Time, didn't last the full eight. He got bucked off after nearly six seconds.

"I've been riding 12 years and I'm still trying to figure it out," Miranda said.

Debbie Porter and her gelded quarterhorse, Gato, won the barrel racing competition final. When Terry Nii's horse rounded a barrel incorrectly, Porter won by disqualification.

Maryknoll looking for girls soccer coaches

Maryknoll School is seeking coaches for its varsity and junior varsity girls soccer teams.

Resumes should be sent to Maryknoll School, 1526 Alexander St., Honolulu, 96822, attention Athletic Department.

Fonoti earns preseason All-American honor

Kahuku High product Toniu Fonoti, a junior offensive guard for the Nebraska football team, has been named a preseason first team All-American by College Football News magazine.

Hawaii's own

Benny Agbayani, Mets: After giving the St. Louis and Hawaii Pacific product four straight days off for the first time this year, Mets manager Bobby Valentine inserted Agbayani into left field and the sixth spot in the lineup against Kevin Tapani and the Cubs.

Agbayani came into the game 2-for-3 with five total bases against Tapani and .395 against the Cubs in his career, but brought those averages down by going hitless in four chances.

Agbayani struck out looking to lead off the second inning, grounded into a double play in the fourth and struck out swinging to end the sixth.

He did not have any more luck in his first career at-bat against Todd Van Poppel in the eighth, flying out to shallow center with a pair of runners on and one out.

With his team leading by a run in the final inning, Valentine took Agbayani out in favor of Joe McEwing in a double switch.

Mike Fetters, Dodgers: The Iolani product has declared that the cervical spasm that put him on the DL have cleared up and that he's at 100 percent. He has thrown bullpen sessions and will come off the disabled list today.

He will be stepping into a very different job situation than the one he left, though, as the Dodger bullpen is 5-0 with five saves and a 1.85 ERA during its past eight games without him.