ISLE FILE
PacWest gains NCAA automatic berths
Advertiser Staff
After several years on the margin of the NCAA Division II map, the Pacific West Conference is back as a major player.
The Division II Presidents Council yesterday waived the two-year waiting period previously required for the newly expanded league to become eligible for automatic qualification to the NCAA championship.
While the decision arrives too late to help the the likes of the Hawai'i Pacific softball team, which finished last season with a 43-5-1 record but was shut out of the national tournament, it does ensure that PacWest championship teams will get an automatic berth to their respective national championship playoffs.
"This is a landmark day for the PacWest," said conference commissioner Bob Hogue.
The PacWest lost its status as an active conference five years ago when it dropped to four teams, which was below the required minimum of six member institutions.
Due to the lapse in meeting the minimum membership, however, the conference was subject to a two-year waiting period for automatic qualification.
The conference, which consisted of Brigham Young-Hawai'i, Chaminade, HPU and Hawai'i-Hilo, subsequently added Grand Canyon, Dixie State and Notre Dame de Namur to its ranks, and was again granted active status last month.
Conference membership now stands at nine with the recent addition of Dominican and San Francisco Academy of Art.
The PacWest will receive automatic berths in tournaments for men's and women's basketball, men's golf, women's soccer, softball, women's tennis and women's volleyball.
GOLF
KONO OUSTED IN U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR
Whitney Neuhauser of Barboursville, Va., defeated Honolulu's Stephanie Kono, 1 up, yesterday in the round of 16 of the U.S. Women's Amateur at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club.
Kono was the final remaining Hawai'i golfer in the field.
Neuhauser faces Belen Mozo of Spain in today's quarterfinals. Kono is a recent Punahou graduate who will be attending UCLA in the fall.
Kono never led in the match against Neuhauser, who never took more than a 2-up lead. Kono was able to close it to 1-up with a birdie on the par-4 17th, but the golfers halved the final hole giving Neuhauser the victory.
In the round of 32, also yesterday, Kono defeated Jane Chin, of Mission Viejo, Calif., 4 and 3, to advance to the afternoon session.
The final of the United States Golf Association tournament is Sunday.
CHING LEADS ARMY GOLF
Alex Ching shot a 6-under-par 66 yesterday to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Army Invitational at Leilehua Golf Course.
Ching is a recent Punahou graduate who will attend the University of San Diego.
Alex Chu is second after a 69. Henry Park, T.J. Kua and Wendell Kop are shot 71s.
The second round is today.
FINK 14TH; MERKLE 11TH
Kailua's David Fink shot a final-round 1-under-par 71 to finish tied for 14th in the Trusted Choice "Big I" Junior Classic at Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst, N.C.
Fink finished the four-round tournament at 7-over 295. Logan McCracken of Oklahoma City shot a 70 for a one-stroke victory at 280.
Honolulu's Kristina Merkle shot a 3-over 75 to finish tied for 11th in the girls division at 20-over 308. Ginger Howard of Bradenton, Fla., shot a 74 for a five-stroke victory at 291.
ELSEWHERE
Princeville (Kaua'i) pro Thomas Firestone shot a 2-under-par 70 yesterday for a three-stroke lead over Regan Lee of Pearl Country Club after the first round of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship at Mid-Pacific Country Club. The final round is today with the winner earning a berth in the national touranment, Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Taeksoo Kim of Wailuku, Maui, shot a 1-under 71 to finish tied for seventh at 1-under 215 in the AJGA New Mexico Open at the Sandia Golf Club. Brenden Redfern of Austin, Texas, shot a 70 for a four-stroke victory at 207.
CORRECTION
Brad Tavares defeated Devin Kauwae by first-round TKO in a 165-pound bout at Saturday night's Icon "Hard Times" card. That result was incorrect in Sunday's edition.
