ISLE FILE
Kim tied for 8th at women's Publinx
Advertiser Staff
Former Big Island resident Kimberly Kim shot a 1-over 74 yesterday and is tied for eighth place after the first round of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links at the Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wis.
Kim, who won the title in 2006 and now resides in Arizona, is one of nine Hawai'i golfers competing in the event.
She is joined by Kapolei's Allisen Corpuz, at 10, the youngest in history to qualify for the event; Pearl City's Mari Chun; Honolulu's Cyd Okino, Stephanie Kono, Kristina Merkle and Xyra Suyetsugu, and Maui's Kelcie Kawano and Kellie Nakashima.
Corpuz, who shot an 8-over 81, is 10 years and three months. Michelle Wie was previously the youngest to qualify at 10 years, 7 months in 2000.
Kono and Merkle each shot 3-over 76 (tied for 16th), Chun 5-over 78 (t40), Nakashima 8-over 81 (t73), Suyetsugu 9-over 82 (t85), Okino 11-over 84 (t106) and Kawano shot 16-over 89 (t139).
There is a four-way tie for first place at 2-under 71.
Okino was 2-over after her first nine. But opened her back nine (the course's front nine) with a bogey, bogey, quadruple bogey en route to a 9-over 45.
The field of 156 players will be reduced to the lowest 64 players after today's second round of stroke play.
The 64 players then will compete in match play, starting tomorrow. The second and third rounds will be played Thursday; the quarterfinals and semifinals Friday, and the 36-hole championship will be played Saturday.
Hawai'i golfers have performed well in this event.
Wie won it in 2003 and finished second in 2004. Lori Castillo won in 1979 and 1980.
MANOA CUP
CHING, KOP SHOOT 66 TO LEAD QUALIFYING
Recent Punahou graduate and state champion Alex Ching and four-time winner Brandan Kop tied for the lead after qualifying yesterday at the 100th Manoa Cup at Oahu Country Club. Both shot 66.
Samuel Rodriguez III (67), Lorens Chan (68) and David Fink (69) round out the top five.
Kurt Nino, the defending champion, shot a 75 and tied for 27th.
The top 64 advance to match play, which begins today at 7 a.m. The tournament ends with a 36-hole final Saturday.
BASKETBALL
HPU WOMEN'S TEAM GETS THREE GUARDS
Monica Chock is one of three guards that will join the Hawai'i Pacific University women's basketball team next season, the school announced yesterday.
Chock, a Saint Francis School alum from 'Aiea, played the past three years at Linfield College. Last season, she played in 14 games for Linfield (12-13).
Taylor Craig, a graduate of Beverly Hills High School, averaged 8.3 points per game, 7.0 assists and 5.7 steals last year .
Tiara Fernandez (Bedford High School, Lambertville, Mich.) helped her team to league titles her junior and senior seasons.
The Sea Warriors finished 8-19 last season.
