ISLE FILE
Lambert, Metzger win beach volleyball event
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i's Mike Lambert and Stein Metzger, who were upset in the first round, battled their way through the contenders' bracket to capture an AVP Tour event yesterday, an unprecedented feat since match-by-match statistics were available starting in 2002.
The second-seeded Lambert and Metzger, both Punahou alums, beat third-seeded Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal, 21-17, 21-18, in the final of the Crocs Tour Jose Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open in Huntington Beach, Calif.
"When we lost in the first round, it was like, 'OK, it's gut-check time. What are we going to do about this mess we're in?' " Metzger said. "To be able pull this off was a great turnaround."
They pocketed $20,000 in winning the third stop of the AVP 2007 Tour.
"I think we peaked during the finals. That was the best we played," Lambert said. "I don't really get it, because we played so many games ... it takes a toll on your body. We finally got a little bit of a break before the finals and went back into the tent for massages and loosening up. When we got out there, it was like, 'Wow, it feels like Wednesday or something.' "
Top-seeded Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second consecutive tournament when they defeated Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh, 21-13, 21-13, in the women's final.
TENNIS
LAM WINS FIRST AS PRO
Honolulu's Chris Lam and Ryler De Heart defeated Marcus Fugate and Timothy Neilly, 6-4, 6-1, yesterday in the doubles final of the $10,000 Grand Harbor Saab Classic at Vero Beach, Fla., a futures event.
It was the first victory on the pro circuit for Lam, who also garnered the tournament's Sportsmanship Award, which goes to the player who best exemplifies outstanding tennis, fair play and genuine sportsmanship.
SURFING
PERKINS PLACES THIRD
Bonga Perkins of Hale'iwa finished third in the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship yesterday.
The final day of the week-long competition was completed in 2- to 3-foot waves at Anglet, France.
Perkins won his quarterfinal heat, defeating Australia's Jackson Close, 11.6-8.4.
In the semifinals, Brazil's Rodrigo Danilo eliminated Perkins, 14.85-12.0. Danilo took the lead early in the heat with an 8.5 (out of 10) ride, and then held off Perkins in the final 20 minutes.
Brazil's Phil Rajzman won the contest, defeating Danilo in the final.
There is no world tour for longboard surfing, so Rajzman is considered the world champion for 2007.
GOLF
PAKKALA, KING LEAD
Matt Pakkala and Jerry King each shot 1-under 72 yesterday to share the first-round lead of the 14th Hawaiian Telcom Hall of Fame Championship at Kapalua's Plantation Course.
Two-time defending champion Kevin Hayashi is third at 73.
Ron Kiaaina shot 76 for a two-shot lead in the senior division and Ron Castillo Sr. shot 79 for a seven-shot lead in the super senior division.
KANEKO TIES FOR 55TH
Honolulu's Ayaka Kaneko, a 17-year-old Sacred Hearts junior, shot a 9-over 81 yesterday to finish in a tie for 55th at 307 in the Japan LPGA's Salonpas World Ladies Cup.
Mi-Jeong Jeon won with 71-282.
