Vulcans drop to 11th place

University of Hawaii-Hilo dropped three spots to 11th place on the final day of stroke play and failed to advance to match play yesterday in the NCAA Division II men’s golf championships at Florence, Ala.

The Vulcans were in eighth place the first two days after shooting team scores of 301. Yesterday they shot 300 at Robert Trent Jones at The Shoals, with lone senior Neil Cabico firing a 2-under-par 70 in his final collegiate round.

Fort Lewis and Barton tied for seventh and took the last two spots in match play with a tournament total of 894. That was eight better than Hilo, which tied for 11th with Sonoma State. Lynn won at 864.

Individually, UHH freshman Corey Kozuma tied for 28th. The ‘Iolani graduate went into the final round a stroke out of the lead, but shot an 81 for a 223 total. Cabico and Blake Snyder (73) tied for 49th at 227, followed by Travis Russell (77—233) and Chris Shimomura (80—235).

Inakoshi, Fox win Open qualifiers

Skye Inakoshi, 15, captured Oahu’s U.S. Open local qualifier by shooting par 72 on Sunday at the 7,400-yard Hoakalei Country Club. Inakoshi won by four shots over Kris Kitt and Doug Spencer.

Inakoshi chose to compete in the 36-hole sectional in Japan. At least one player from each of the 11 sectionals, scheduled June 6, will play in the U.S. Open Championship, June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club, in Bethesda, Md.

Yesterday’s final Hawaii local qualifier was played at the 7,055-yard Kauai Lagoons Golf Club. Ben Fox, from Studio City, Calif., earned the one spot available by shooting 3-under-par 69. Punahou boys coach Matthew Pakkala earned first alternate, shooting 72 and beating California’s Mark Scheibach in a one-hole playoff. Lihue’s Ron Castillo Jr. (74) was fourth.

Hardy, Kim make region first team

Hawaii-Hilo junior outfielder Bryanna Hardy and Hawaii Pacific junior designated hitter Maile Kim were selected to the 2011 Daktronics West Region first team, which was voted on by the region’s sports information directors.

Hardy started all 42 games for the Vulcans and batted .369 with 23 walks and only nine strikeouts.

Kim started all 50 games for the Sea Warriors and batted .387 with seven homers and 46 RBIs.

HPU junior pitcher Breanne Patton and Hilo junior pitcher Amber Waracka made the second team.

Patton, who had 24 complete games in her 26 starts, went 23-4 with a 1.49 ERA over 174 innings.

Waracka went 14-6 with a 1.85 ERA over 125 innings.

Alo sisters win at nationals

Sisters Teshya Alo and Teniya Alo won their divisions at the Body Bar Women’s National Championships over the weekend at Orlando, Fla.

Teshya won the schoolgirls 113-pound division at the freestyle wrestling tournament, while Teniya took the girls Division II 70-75 pound division.

Morgan Yamaguchi finished fourth in the 132.25-pound division and fifth in the 138.75-pound division. Sister Megan Yamaguchi did not place.

All four wrestlers represented Team Hawaii.

Hawaii group gets $25,000 from NFL

NFL YET Hawaii was awarded $25,000 by NFL Charities to fund its summer Youth Healthy and Fitness project.

NFL YET Hawaii, which targets 7- to 17-year-olds, will focus on increasing positive social behaviors and healthy living practices for youth by encouraging them to be active for at least 60 minutes a day and introducing good nutrition options.

Payne loses at Billabong Pro Rio

Brazil’s Hector Alves beat Hawaii’s Dusty Payne 12.44 to 10.40 in the second round of the Billabong Pro Rio yesterday.

Payne was eliminated from the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour contest and Alves moved on to the third round.