Ching fourth in NCAA golf

Punahou graduate Alex Ching shot 1-under-par 70 to join a five-way tie for fourth place after the opening round of the NCAA Division I men's golf championship in Toledo, Ohio yesterday.

Ching, a San Diego freshman, is one shot behind leaders Jonathan Bowers of Northwestern, Scott Langley of Illinois and Matt Hill of North Carolina State.

Ching led the Toreros to a tie for fourth place in the team standings. Oklahoma State and Georgia share the lead.

Arizona State freshman Chan Kim, the 2006 state high school champion while at Kaimuki, was tied for 56th at 4-over 75.

Stroke play continues today and tomorrow. Friday's round and Saturday's final will be match play.

Hawaii seventh in WAC Cup

Hawaii placed seventh in this year's Western Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup standings with a total of 62.75 points.

Commissioner's Cup points are awarded based on each school's performances in the WAC's 19 sports. Fresno State won the Commissioner's Cup for the second straight year with 85.50 points. Nevada was second with 84.75 points, followed by Boise State, Utah State, New Mexico State and Idaho. Hawaii finished ahead of Louisiana Tech and San Jose State.

[ PACWEST PLACE ]

Amaral, Manago make All-Region

Hawaii Pacific University freshman Blake Amaral and Hawaii-Hilo sophomore Keoni Manago were named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-West Region second team yesterday.

Amaral, a Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate, hit .386 with five home runs and 46 RBIs for the Sea Warriors.

Manago, the PacWest player of the year, hit .435 and was 12-for-12 on stolen base attempts for the Vulcans.