ISLE FILE
Chun fires 71 at U.S. Amateur
Advertiser Staff
Mari Chun shot an 1-under 71 in the first round of the weather-delayed U.S. Women's Amateur Championship yesterday at the Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind.
Chun, a Kamehameha graduate who plays at Stanford, is tied for 19th after thunderstorms suspended the event in the afternoon.
Defending champion Kimberly Kim, a former Big Island resident now living in Arizona, is 2-over through 10 holes and tied for 52nd. At 14, Kim became the youngest champion in the tournament's 111-year history by defeating 26-year-old Katharina Schallenberg of Germany, 1-up, last year in Oregon.
Sacred Hearts senior Ayaka Kaneko is even through 11 holes and tied for 27th. Punahou junior Anna Jang is 2-over through eight holes and tied for 52nd. Jang was this year's state high school golf champion. First-round action will resume today before the start of the second round.
Hawai'i Prep senior Tamara Surtees finished the day at 7-over 79 and tied for 136th.
Candace Schepperle of Alabama leads the field after shooting a 5-under 67.
The top 64 scorers will advance to match play, scheduled to begin tomorrow.
HOPOI, CORPUZ WIN U.S. KIDS WORLD TITLES
Donny Hopoi of 'Aiea and Allisen Corpuz of Waipahu captured titles at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship at Pinehurst, N.C., on Saturday.
Hopoi shot a 71 on the final day for a three-round 211 and a three-shot victory over Zecheng Dou of China in the boys' 10-year-old division.
Corpuz shot a 35 on Saturday for a 97 total to win the girls' 9-year-old division, three shots ahead of Lila Vu of Fountain Valley, Calif. and Mariel Galdiano of Kapolei.
BASKETBALL
RAINBOW CLASSIC MATCHUPS ANNOUNCED
The host University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will open the 2007 Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic against Louisiana-Lafayette, Dec. 19 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.
Preceding that game is Ohio and St. John's at 5 p.m. On Dec. 20, Tulane and Saint Mary's meet at 5 p.m. followed by East Tennessee State and Georgia at 7:30 p.m.
Winners advance to the championship rounds, Dec. 21-22, while the losers will play in the afternoon consolation rounds.
Georgia is the 1996 tourney champion. Defending champ Hawai'i has won the tournament 11 times.
FISHING
BILLFISH TOURNEY GETS OFF TO 'QUIET' START
The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament started offshore Kailua-Kona yesterday with three Pacific blue marlin and two short nose spearfish tagged and released.
"We had a bit of a cold current out there today which could account for the relativity quiet day," stated HIBT founder Peter Fithian.
Team Protea South Africa, Whangaroa Game Fishing Club of New Zealand, and Pajaro Valley Gamefish Club #1 of California rounded out yesterday's Pacific blue marlin tag and release catch.
Australia's Perth Game Fishing Club and Hawai'i's own Hilo Yacht Club each tagged a short nose spearfish.
Team Protea and Pajaro Valley share the team lead with 300 points each.
The five-day tournament continues through Friday.
