Posted on: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Chan Kim shines for Sun Devils
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Chan Kim is always up for a challenge. The freshman on the Arizona State men's golf team has never shied away from an opportunity.
That's why the former Kaimuki High student moved to Arizona after his sophomore year — when he won the state high school golf championship in 2006 — to be closer to more of the elite junior golf tournaments.
The leap of faith paid off. Kim earned All-American junior honors and after two years honing his game in Chandler, Ariz., Kim accepted a scholarship to play for the Sun Devils.
Despite playing in just six tournaments this season, Kim is peaking at the right time, having just tied for third at the NCAA West Regionals last weekend in Daly City, Calif.
"He keeps getting better and better," Arizona State coach Randy Lein said. "More than anything I think it's that he is comfortable now and able to play naturally like he's used to doing."
Kim shot 9-under-par (71-67-69—207) for the tournament at the par-72 Lake Merced Golf Club. He is averaging 72.73 strokes per round this year.
"He's a big kid with a lot of finesse," said Lein of Kim, who stands 6 foot 4. "He's picked up a few things from playing with some older players that are pretty talented, but he has a proven track record at the junior level and he has a very good understanding of how to play the game."
Lein said Kim's experience has helped him mature as a golfer.
"He's had a lot of experience at a young age ... he doesn't make mental errors," Lein said. "He has a simple, repetitive swing, he has a good putter, his short game is good ... His future looks very bright."
The Sun Devils also won the team title at the West Regional by nine strokes over Oregon. Three of the top four individuals represented ASU.
"That was very satisfying, we got better each day," Lein said. "This was the first week where everyone played well. We've battled with being inconsistent all season — we're very talented, but last week was the first time we were able to put it all together."
The Sun Devils leave Sunday for the NCAA Championships in Toledo, Ohio.
MORE GOLF
University of San Diego freshman Alex Ching (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) tied for 24th at the NCAA Division I West Regionals last weekend at the par-72 Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, Calif. Ching opened with a 72, followed with a 69 and closed with a 73 to finished two-over par 214. University of San Francisco senior Kurt Nino (Damien '05 of Honolulu) shot 15-over par 231 in 73rd place.
New Mexico junior Britney Choy (Leilehua '06 of Wahiawa) and UCLA freshman Stephanie Kono (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) are tied with three others for seventh after the first round of the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships at the par-72 Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md. Choy and Kono carded 1-over par 73 yesterday and are three strokes behind the leader. Arizona senior Amanda Wilson (Waiakea '04 of Hilo) is tied for 38th at 4-over 76.
SOFTBALL
California sophomore catcher Sanoe Kekahuna (Baldwin '07) hit a pair of solo homers in Friday's 8-3 win over Mississippi State in the opening game for both teams at an NCAA Regional in Tallahassee, Fla. Mississippi State freshman left fielder Ka'ili Smith (Kapolei '08) went 1 for 4 against the Golden Bears and 0-2 with a walk in a 5-0 loss to Florida State Saturday. Cal (38-18) advances to meet Florida in the Super Regionals. The Bulldogs ended their season with a 5-0 loss to Florida State and a 28-28 record.
Purdue junior shortstop Liane Horiuchi (Kamehameha '05 of Wahiawa) batted 2 for 3 with a solo homer and three runs scored in a 5-4 win over host Louisville Saturday in an NCAA Regional. In a 6-2 win over Tennessee-Martin earlier in the day, Horiuchi doubled, walked and scored a run. The Boilermakers were eliminated by Arizona, ending their season with a 31-20 record. Horiuchi was named to the All-Big Ten Conference Second Team.
Missouri Valley senior shortstop Kimberly Fuller (Roosevelt '05 of Honolulu) batted 2 for 4 and scored a pair of runs in a 7-4 win over Northwood (Texas) Sunday at the NAIA National Tournament in Decatur, Ala. Junior second baseman Sydney Kaneshiro (Kailua '06 of Honolulu) had an RBI for the Vikings, who finished the season with a 34-23 record. BASEBALL
Northwestern freshman first baseman Paul Snieder (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) hit the tying and winning home runs in a 6-5 win over Michigan Sunday. Snieder hit a two-run shot over the center field fence in the bottom of the seventh and hit a walk-off solo homer to right center with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Freshman right-handed pitcher Michael Jahns (St. Anthony '08 of Kihei) gave up three runs — two earned — on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks in five innings pitched in the series opener against the Wolverines Thursday. Jahns exited the game with a three-run lead, but the Wildcats lost 16-6.
Brigham Young senior first baseman Kasey Ko (Punahou '05 of Kailua) walked four times in a 10 inning, 2-1 loss against Utah in the Mountain West Conference Tournament first-round game yesterday in Fort Worth, Texas.
Southern Utah senior second baseman Keli'i Zablan (Saint Louis '05 of 'Ewa Beach) batted 1 for 4 with a walk and stolen base in Thursday's 9-7 win over South Dakota State. Zablan came in to pitch in the ninth inning and earned the win to go to 3-0 on the season. He gave up one hit, walked two and struck out one in 1 2/3 innings.
Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) senior left fielder Kaohi Downing (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) batted 4 for 13 with three RBIs and two runs scored in three wins at the NAIA National Tournament last week in Azusa, Calif. Downing was 2 for 5 with a double, RBI and run scored in an 8-1 win over Azusa Pacific. The Sea Lions advanced to the NAIA World Series, beginning Friday in Lewiston, Idaho. PLNU is the No. 3 seed in the 10-team tournament and opens play against sixth-seeded Embry-Riddle (Fla.) Friday. HONORS
UC Irvine senior Heidi Kaloi (Kamehameha '05 of Wahiawa) and doubles' teammate Stephanie Hammel were named to the All-Big West Conference Women's Tennis First Team.
Charleston Southern (S.C.) senior softball player Gail Matsushima (Punahou '05 of Kailua) was named an Academic All-Big South Conference selection. Matsushima, a third baseman and designated hitter, batted .327 with 52 hits, a team-best 36 RBI and 21 runs scored in 159 at-bats while starting all 59 games this season.
DePauw (Ind.) sophomore tennis player Janelle Arita (Punahou '07 of Mililani) was named to the All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference First Team. Arita went 23-10 in singles and 21-10 in doubles during the regular season.
Redlands (Calif.) senior second baseman Dory Baga (University High '05 of 'Aiea) was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region Second Team. Baga batted .373 with 47 hits, 36 RBIs and 26 runs scored in 126 at-bats while starting 41 games this season.
Grinnell (Iowa) junior second baseman Chad Takabuki (Mid-Pacific '06 of Honolulu) was named to the All-Midwest Conference South Division First Team. Takabuki batted .269 with 35 hits, 18 RBIs, 28 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 32 games.
Hartnell (Calif.) sophomore outfielder Ridge Carpenter (Kalani '07) was named to the All-Coast Conference Pacific Division First Team. Monterey Peninsula (Calif.) sophomore catcher Logan Kanamu (Baldwin '07) and sophomore pitcher Kili Vierra (Kailua '07) were second team selections.
