Flanagan 10th
in World 5K event

FUKUOKA, Japan >> Hawaii's John Flanagan finished 10th yesterday at the World Swimming Championship men's 5-kilometer, open-water event.

Flanagan, who won the U.S. title last month in Florida, was timed in 56 minutes and 59 seconds over the rough 3.2-mile course.

Luca Baldini powered home unchallenged to win the event and give Italy its second gold medal on the opening day of the ninth annual event.

The first U.S. swimmer was Mark Leonard, who finished fourth in 56:43.

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Up a bay without a paddle

George F. Lee / glee@starbulletin.com
Paddleboarders took off at the start of
yesterday's 3 1/2-mile Bayfest event at the
Kaneohe Marine Base. Dawson Jones of Pupukea
paddled the fastest at 41 minutes, 48 seconds.

Metzger, Wong
win in Switzerland

Hawaii's Stein Metzger and Kevin Wong upset the top two seeded teams yesterday to win the $180,000 Swiss Open stop on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour in Gstaad.

Seeded seventh in the 32-team men's Main Draw, Metzger and Wong shared the $27,000 first-place prize with a 21-17, 22-20 win over the second-seeded Laciga brothers, Martin and Paul, in the 38-minute title match.

The win was Metzger's first-ever as a pro beach player while Wong won for the second time. Internationally, they have a 14-3 match mark.

Metzger and Wong opened yesterday's play with a 22-20, 16-21,15-11 semifinal win over top-seeded Emanuel Rego and Tande Ramos of Brazil.

LeGrande, Doble win AVP beach doubles event

Hawaii's Lee LeGrande teamed with Brent Doble yesterday to win the Sunkist Open, an Association of Volleyball Professionals tournament, at Muskegon, Mich.

Seeded fourth in the men's Main Draw, Doble and LeGrande won all six of their matches on the Pere Marquette Park courts to capture the $14,000 first-place prize. In capturing their second pro beach title together, Doble and LeGrande scored a 21-16, 23-21 win in 49 minutes over second-seeded Canyon Canyon Ceman and Mike Whitmarsh.

Former University of Hawaii players Sean Scott and Albert Hannemann had their best-ever pro showing together, finishing third. The two shared $6,600 for defeating Daniel Cardenas and Jim Nichols 21-17, 21-10.

In the women's draw, seventh-seeded Linda Hanley and Sarah Straton captured their first women's title together. Hanley, who at 41 is believed to be the oldest woman to ever win a pro beach title, is married to former University of Hawaii player John Hanley.

Isobe finishes third at U.S. Deaf Golf Tourney

Hawaii's Gerald Isobe finished third Friday at the inaugural U.S. Deaf Golf Championship in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Isobe carded a 313 in the four-day tournament held at the Prairie Green Golf Course. Bill Roberts of Missouri won the 72-hole event with a 296.

Isobe qualified as one of six golfers to represent the U.S. at the 4th World Deaf Golf Championship in Dublin, Ireland, July 29-Aug. 2. He was on the U.S. team that won the world championship last year in South Africa.

West Oahu shuts out Hawaii Island Movers

Royce Fukuroku's RBI-triple highlighted a three-run fifth inning as West Oahu shut out the Hawaii Island Movers in baseball yesterday at Rainbow Stadium.

Four West Oahu pitchers combined on a two-hitter. The teams meet again at 6 tonight at Rainbow Stadium.

Vintage surf auction scheduled for Saturday

Surfing's roots will be revisited in a matter of days when more than a century of historical surf memorabilia and collectibles will be unveiled and up for sale at the Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction Saturday at Blaisdell Center.

Proceeds with benefit the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association's Junior Guard Program.

Vintage surfboards will be the focal point, including turn-of-the-century wood boards, big-wave boards and Duke Kahanamoku's last personal surfboard.

All items will be available for a free preview in the Galleria at the Blaisdell Center on Friday from 4-9 p.m., and on Saturday from 11 a.m.. While there is no fee for previewing, those wishing to make a bid will need to purchase a bidding number on site for $25.

The auction will take place in the Pikake Room on Saturday, the silent auction will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. with the main auction starting at 7 p.m. On-line bidding is available now for silent auction items at www.hawaiisurfauction.com

For more information, contact Randy Rarick at 638-7266 or by e-mail: surfpro@hawaii.rr.com

Hawaii's Own

ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York's Benny Agbayani was tagged out at the plate
by Toronto catcher Darren Fletcher in the seventh inning
of their interleague game yesterday at Shea Stadium.
Agbayani tried to score from third when Jay Payton
stole second base. Shortstop Alex Gonzalez
made the throw home.

Benny Agbayani, Mets: The St. Louis School and Hawaii Pacific alumnus broke out of an 0-18 slump when he singled off Chris Michalak in the fifth inning of his team's 6-2 win over Toronto.

New York manager Bobby Valentine continued to shake up his lineup, starting Agbayani in the third spot -- where he hits .190 -- for only the ninth time in his career. Agbayani started slowly in the unfamiliar role, popping up with two on in the first and flying out to deep right in the third.

Once he was out of his funk, Agbayani wasn't content with just one hit. He followed his fifth-inning hit with a single into the gap in right center off Bob File in the seventh to drive home Edgardo Alfonzo from second.

The RBI and run scored -- he cruised home in the fifth when Piazza blasted a home run -- were Agbayani's first since June 21, when he homered against the Braves.

Agbayani would have scored another run in the seventh, but was caught trying to steal home. With two outs, Jay Payton and Agbayani tried to execute a delayed steal but Jays' shortstop Alex Gonzalez fired to catcher Darrin Fletcher to nab Agbayani.

Agbayani was taken out in favor of Joe McEwing at the top of the next inning after his baserunning gaffe.

Agbayani is hitting .350 (7-20) against Toronto, and is 3-6 with two homers against today's probable starter Roy Halladay.

Mike Fetters, Dodgers: The Iolani School product put all fears about the neck spasms that sent him to the DL last month to rest, appearing in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

And Fetters responded by putting out a fire in the seventh to earn his team-high 14th hold.

With a runner on third and two outs in the seventh inning of a 4-2 game, Dodgers manager Jim Tracey ordered Fetters onto the mound of PNC Park for the first time in his career.

Fetters was tasked with getting John Wehner, but Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon called Wehner -- who had singled in his only major league at-bat against Fetters -- back into the dugout in favor of Abraham Nunez, who had never faced Fetters but hit from the left side of the plate, where opponents hit 29 points better (.275 vs. .246) against Fetters.

Fetters immediately got Nunez to line out to short to preserve the lead.

Fetters got the first two batters of the eighth, but gave way to Jesse Orosco after Jason Kendell stroked a single to left field.