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Aussies hold lead heading into HIBT final day

KAILUA-KONA » The Game Fishing Club of South Australia stayed ahead in the 45th Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament team standings yesterday with a blue marlin catch by Jennelle Young.

The tag-and-release catch of the 130-pound fish added to Wednesday's 605 1/2 pounder by Brad Bobbermien, raising the team's total to 1,307 points.

The Australians are gunning for a third title in the event conducted from the new Kailua Pier. They won in 1990 and 1996.

The only three-time winner is defending champion Pajaro Valley Gamefish Club of California, which was well behind at yesterday's stop fishing call.

The tournament will be decided in the final 9 hours of fishing from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

Young and Bobbermien's catches raised the title hopes for Capt. John Johnston, a hall of fame angler from Adelaide who is noted for being the first one to catch tuna, a shark and a marlin more than 1,000 pounds. Bobbermien and Young are a husband and wife team.

Old South Marlin Club's Team No. 1 slipped into undisputed second place after a 180-pound catch by Randall Ward followed by 175 pounder reeled in by his wife, Susan, about three hours later, bringing the team's total to 1,150 points. Both were caught on 50-pound test line for a maximum of 600 points combined.

The Sunshine Coast Game Fishing Club of Queensland, Australia, stands at third place with 900 points following yesterday's marlin catch of 170 pounds by Gary Barton.

The top skipper in the tournament remained Boyd DeCoito of the Foxy Lady with 1,557 points followed by Pete Hoogs of Pamela with 1,300. They are contesting for the Henry Chee Memorial Award trophy, won last year by Marlin Parker.

The day's action was considered strong with 15 catches, including 11 marlin, out of 22 hook ups.

UH's Buchanan named academic All-American

Hawaii track and field athlete Dana Buchanan was named to the U.S. Track Coaches Association All-Academic team thanks to her 3.3 grade point average and participation in the NCAA West Regional Championships.

The freshman middle distance runner is one of 200 women's track athletes honored.

Buchanan qualified for the NCAA regional in the 800 and 1,500 meters, and set school records in each at the meet.

She was sixth in the 800 at the meet, missing a berth to the NCAA Championships by one spot.

Duke's Waikiki to host Duke's 1-mile swim

Duke's Canoe Club Waikiki will host the Duke's One Mile Ocean Swim Aug. 22 in collaboration with the Waikiki Swim Club and the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation.

The swim is part of the 2004 Duke Kahanamoku Hoolaulea.

The triangular course will begin and end in front of Duke's Waikiki. It will be conducted in five-minute waves in groups of 300 entrants.

The entry fee is $20 per swimmer. Application deadline is Aug. 15. Late entries will cost $30.

For information, e-mail dukesaloha@aol.com

Golf Healthy Challenge set for Sept. 9

The Golf Healthy Challenge to benefit St. Francis Healthcare Foundation is set for Sept. 9 at Hawaii Prince Golf Course.

The tournament is best-ball three-person teams with a $450 entry fee per team.

St. Francis Foundation's golf tournaments have raised approximately $1 million for the Franciscan Sisters' healthcare programs and services, it read in a release.

Entry deadline is Aug. 22. For information, call 547-6877.

Darainbow.com flag football needs teams

Registration is open for the www.darainbow.com Hawaii Flag Football League's fall season.

The 10-game minimum league starts play in September, with games held at Salt Lake District Park. The registration fee is $850 for 8-man play and $275 for 4-on-4, plus a $100 deposit for forfeit and missed-meeting fines. The cost includes player medical insurance.

The registration deadline is Aug. 29. For information call Rick at 672-6050 or go to www.darainbow.com.

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