With nearly half of its women's roster boasting golfers from Hawai'i, Pacific University is quickly establishing a pipeline from the Islands to Forest Grove, Ore.

All three golfers prepped at Waiakea High before moving on to represent the Boxers.

Junior Jasmine Ching, a 2006 graduate, along with sophomores Tami Park and Valerie Kitamori, both 2007 graduates, form the "Waiakea Three."

Pacific earned its first trip to the NCAA Division III Championships last year after capturing its fourth Northwest Conference title in five years.

Ching earned all-NWC honors in 2007 after she placed sixth in the conference tournament. She finished in the top seven of all but two tournaments last year.

"When the big tournaments are up and the money is on the line, she is there," Pacific coach Richard Warren said in a season preview on the school's Web site. "She is strong and she is our most relaxed player. She keeps everyone free and loose on the course."

Park's scoring average of 85.64 also earned her all-conference honors last season. Kitamori finished 2007 on a high note, with her best performances coming in the Division III nationals, where the Boxers finished 18th.

Kitamori led Pacific last weekend with a second-place finish at the Linfield Invitational at the par-72 Michelbook Country Club in McMinnville, Ore.

She finished three strokes (160) behind the winner. Ching tied for third at 162 while Park shot 200.

In addition to the Waiakea trio, sophomore Max Bonk, a 2007 graduate of Hawai'i Prep on the Big Island, is the top returning player for the men's team after he won medalist honors at last year's NWC Championship Tournament. Bonk finished 28th at the NCAA Division III Championships and earned All-Freshman Team honors.

"I know coaches were quite impressed at nationals with where Max was as a freshman," Warren said. "I think bigger things are coming for him."

Bonk, who averaged 74.4 strokes in 2007, was named to the Golf Coaches Association of American/PING Division III West Region Team.

Last weekend, Bonk fired rounds of 72 and 71 to finish second (three strokes behind the winner) at the Linfield Invitational.

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