Hilo's Greg Meyer opened with a 6-under-par 65 yesterday to take the lead in the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship at Shishido Hills Country Club in Kasama, an hour northeast of Tokyo.

Meyer, 47, came into the year's second major 112th on the Japan Golf Tour Organization money list, with a scoring average of 73.0. But the University of Hawai'i graduate produced big time with his putter in the first round, after switching to the Odyssey 5 he used last year.

"It was the putter. The putter was on today," said Meyer, who represents Pearl Country Club and lives in Osaka during the season. "It's been a long time. I'm sure happy to be back.

"I haven't been putting good since the beginning of the season so I just tried to remember how I putted during my college days, because nothing has been working."

Meyer has been playing on the Japan tour for 23 years and is looking for his first victory. After tying for 48th in his first event this season he missed the last three cuts.

Meyer's 65 tied his career low on tour. He had 25 putts, making seven birdies and a bogey.

Meyer leads Shinichi Akiba and Norihiko Furusho by a shot. Five are tied for fourth, another shot back.

BASEBALL

USA INVITES WONG

University of Hawai'i center fielder Kolten Wong has been invited to the USA Baseball National Team Trials.

Wong, the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, was one of 36 collegiate players who were invited to the trials, scheduled for June 15 to 24 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. The field will be narrowed to 22 players for the final roster, which will be announced on June 24.

Wong started all 58 games for Hawai'i this season, batting .341 with 11 home runs, 21 doubles, two triples, 52 RBIs, 46 runs and 11 stolen bases. He was named to the all-WAC first team and earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors.

The National Team will compete in several exhibition games in North Carolina, including two friendly series against the Canadian National Team, June 25 to 29, and Guatemala, July 2 to 4. The U.S. will then travel to Japan to compete in the Japan vs. USA Collegiate Championships before closing out the summer in Canada at the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia.

VOLLEYBALL

UH CAMPS SET

The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball program will conduct camps for youths and adults this summer.

The youth camp, for girls and boys entering fourth grade through graduating high school seniors, will be held July 14 to 17 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The adult camp, for males and females, will be held July 13 to 17 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Both camps are open to those at all skill levels and will be held at the Stan Sheriff Center and adjoining gyms at a cost of $150 per camper. Group rates are available. Those who sign up before June 30 will receive a free shirt.

Head coach Charlie Wade and his staff, along with current and former UH players, will conduct the camps.

For more information, call 808-956-9122, e-mail uhmvballcamp@gmail.com or check out the Web at http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/

TRACK AND FIELD

WICHMANN HONORED

University of Hawai'i multi-event standout Annett Wichmann was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District women's track and field/cross country team for her performance in the classroom and on the track.

Wichmann earned the first-team honor for the third straight year and is now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

Wichmann is the school's first four-time Academic All-District student-athlete.

The Jena, Germany, native is a Kinesiology/Leisure Science major and participated in graduation ceremonies last month.

Wichmann will be making her fourth straight appearance in the heptathlon at the NCAA Championships, June 10 to 13 at the University of Arkansas.

BASKETBALL

MAVS INVITE TABUSE

Former Phoenix Suns and Brigham Young-Hawai'i guard Yuta Tabuse, the only Japanese player to make it to the NBA, has been invited to the Dallas Mavericks summer camp.

The 5-foot-9 Tabuse played briefly for Phoenix before being waived in the 2004-05 season.