Shaq, Lakers to throw
party at World Cafe

The world champion Los Angeles Lakers may be coming to Honolulu to train and play a couple of exhibition games, but the team, including Shaquille O'Neal, will also attend its own championship party at World Cafe.

In conjunction with the party, the center will hold a release of his new CD, "Shaquille O'Neal Presents His Super Friends, Volume 1!" It begins next Friday at 10 p.m. at the Nimitz Highway venue. Entry is $20 and will be on a first-come, first-served basis, according to World Cafe executives.

Atlanta disc jockey, J-Nice, reportedly O'Neal's favorite DJ, will emcee this Hawaii version of the Lakers' championship party and O'Neal, all 7-foot-1 and 330 pounds, will appear on stage.

O'Neal is not playing in the Oct. 7 & 9 games against the Golden State Warriors at the Stan Sheriff Center because of toe surgery. O'Neal's sixth CD features Snoop Dogg, Common, Mos Def, Jayo Felony, Talib Kweli, Ludacris, Angie Stone, Trina, Twista, Lord Tariq, Peter Gunz, Black Thought, Black Rob, and George Clinton.

The celebration, one of the highest-profile events to be held at World Cafe, was planned more than a month ago, but the announcement was postponed because of the attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

All the Lakers are expected to attend the event, including all-star Kobe Bryant. The Lakers' party will be held in the VIP area of the club on the third floor and will be broadcast live over I-94.

Lee grabs early lead at Waikoloa Open

Oahu's Regan Lee shot two-under-par 70 to take a three-shot lead after the first round of the 28th annual Waikoloa Open. Lee was the only player to break par, as winds and challenging pin placements made the Waikoloa Village Course play difficult.

Casey Nakama, who won here in 1999, is in second place with a one-over 73. Ed Tishner, Mike Rich and amateur Shannon Sibayan were tied for third place with 2-over 74s.

Turtle Bay qualifying round draws 50 pros

Fifty Hawaii and mainland golf professionals will participate in the Turtle Bay Championship qualifying round on Monday for four spots in next week's $1.5 million Senior PGA Tour event.

Among the local pros vying for the four spots are Rodney Acia of the Big Island, Kauai's Dan Nishimoto, Maui's Dean Prince and Oahu golfers Chuck Davis, Carl Matthews, Larry Stubblefield, Thomas Ukauka, Norm Guenther and Fran Sanchez.

The qualifying round begins at noon. North Shore pro Lance Suzuki was given a sponsor exemption. Also included in the field are Hale Irwin, Bruce Fleisher and Chi Chi Rodriguez.

Jones, Suan, Leahey to speak at QB Club

Hawaii head coach June Jones will be the headline act at Monday's Quarterback Club luncheon. Joining him is Warrior assistant Wes Suan and broadcaster Jim Leahey.

The lunch at the Pagoda International Ballroom begins at 11:30 a.m with the program set for noon. In addition, the outstanding male and female athletes of the 2001 Aloha State Games -- Lionel Low, 61, and Diane Stowell, 67 -- will be honored.

Takekawa helps Gaels top Wahine

The Saint Mary's women's soccer team kept its unbeaten streak going yesterday with a 4-1 victory over the Hawaii Wahine at Moraga, Calif.

The Gaels, ranked No. 24 in the latest National Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association poll, opened the scoring at 14:03 when Sarah Rae Takekawa, a freshman striker from Kailua High School, found the net with a head shot.

The Wahine (3-3) answered at the 24-minute mark when Arlene Devitt took a pass from Veronica Flores and scored her fourth goal of the season on a left-footed blast from 16-yards out. It was the first goal Saint Mary's (7-0-1) had allowed in six matches.

Three minutes before the half, Jen Belzer put the Gaels ahead, 2-1, with her first goal of the season, a line drive from 30 yards out.

Shauna Rech and Katie Sticinski, on a penalty kick, scored for the Gaels in the second half.

"We played them equal or better in the first half. We were unlucky to go down 2-1 at the half," said Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing.

"In the second half we were just flat, really miserable. I'm really disappointed and I think the kids are, too. They lost concentration and played tactically unsound soccer. We weren't able to get anything going."

The Wahine play at Cal State Sacramento tomorrow.

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Hawaii's Own

Mike Fetters, Pirates: The Iolani graduate did not pitch in a 14-3 loss to St. Louis.

Chris Truby, Astros: The Damien product hit a solo homer off Jeff Fassero in a ninth-inning pinch-hit appearance. The run was Houston's last in a 6-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs.