Defending Hawaii State Amateur Stroke Play champion Joe Phengsavath isn't on the lead after yesterday's opening round of the 72-hole event at the Pearl Country Club, but he's not too far off the pace. Phengsavath leads
at Amateur Stroke Play,
with Wie 4 shots backMark West fashioned a respectable 5-under 67 to take a three-stroke advantage over Phengsavath and Chase Chulakote. Michelle Wie is one of five golfers another shot back at 71. She will be making the first of six LPGA Tour appearances on March 27 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
What better way to get into shape than to play alongside the men this weekend. She already toured the Pearl Country Club course earlier this year when she attempted to qualify for the Sony Open in Hawaii, the first full-field event on the PGA Tour.
Phengsavath took part in the Sony Open as a local amateur. He didn't make the 36-hole cut, but said he had a lot of fun and looked forward to earning another possible tour exemption in the 2004 tourney. Only 15 in the field of 120 shot even par or better. The field will be pared to 40 and ties at the end of today's round.
Hawaii loses twice in softball tournament
FULLERTON, Calif. >> Hawaii's hot streak was halted last night, as the Rainbow Wahine dropped a pair of games in the Kia Klassic.UH lost to No. 9 Cal State Fullerton 3-1, as the Titans (18-7) scored twice in the seventh inning against Melissa Coogan.
Hawaii then lost to Washington 5-2, as Shannon Tabion gave up five runs in 2 1/3 innings.
UH had won 11 of 13 games before traveling to the Kia Klassic.
UH (14-9) went up 1-0 in the first against Fullerton when Tracie Uchima scored on an error, but the Titans tied the game in the fifth. Fullerton got four of their nine hits in the seventh, scoring twice with two outs.
Coogan (11-3) lost for the first time in nine decisions. She struck out seven and walked two in a 104-pitch outing.
Fullerton beat No. 4 Texas 1-0 Wednesday on the opening day of its tournament.
Hawaii meets Texas today.
Seasiders split: Brigham Young-Hawaii split a doubleheader in Laie with Martin Methodist, losing 2-1 and winning 7-4. Michelle Gibson hit a two-run single to break a 4-all tie in the sixth and send BYUH (14-13) to victory.
>> Austin Smylie, Brigham Young-Hawaii basketball: The freshman forward from Salt Lake City was spectacular in injured Scott Salisbury's spot in the rotation last week, scoring 35 points and grabbing 20 rebounds in two games against Chaminade.
[Top Performers]
>> Malia Sullivan, Hawaii Pacific softball: The junior from Sun Valley, Calif., has thrown seven complete games in seven starts and put the Sea Warriors in first place in the conference. Sullivan has a 1.77 earned run average this season.