Kono helps UCLA to NCAA golf title

Honolulu’s Stephanie Kono shot a 2-over-par 74 yesterday to help UCLA capture the NCAA women’s golf championship in Bryan, Texas.

Kono completed the third round, suspended by darkness Friday, at 6-over 78. In the final round, she triple-bogeyed the par-5 eighth hole, but played the back nine at 2 under. She carded the last of her four birdies on No. 18 to help the Bruins hold off Purdue for the team title. UCLA finished at 21-over 1,173, four strokes ahead of the defending champion Boilermakers, to win its third national championship.

Kono closed the tournament at 10-over 298, good for a tie for 32nd. LSU freshman Austin Ernst won the individual title at 7-under 281.

Former Trojans still in regionals

Three collegiate freshmen from Mililani High helped their teams stay alive in the NCAA softball tournament yesterday.

East Carolina second baseman Kristi Oshiro went 1-for-3 in a 2-0 loss to Baylor, then drove in the insurance run in a 2-0 win over host Maryland in an elimination game. Catcher Rebecca Lee went 1-for-3 and scored a run against Maryland and the Pirates moved to the regional final against Baylor.

Florida State center fielder Courtney Senas went 2-for-5, scored three runs and stole three bases in wins over Georgia State and UAB. The Seminoles must beat host Georgia twice today to advance to the super regionals.

Kamehameha graduate Hoku Nohara hit a two-run homer in New Mexico State’s 6-4 loss to Texas Tech in an elimination game. NMSU lost to host Arizona 8-0 earlier in the day.

Manago, Amaral make second team

Hawaii-Hilo senior outfielder Keoni Manago and Hawaii pacific junior infielder were named to the NCBWA Division II All-West Region second team.

Manago led the Pacific West Conference in hitting with a .394 average and finished with 14 doubles, three triples and three home runs. The Roosevelt High product also had 25 RBIs and 41 runs scored.

Amaral, Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate, was second in the PacWest in hitting with a .388 average and also had 16 doubles and 27 RBIs.

Yanagi, Kua win qualifiers

Nani Yanagi of Hilo and Lihue’s TJ Kua won their respective public links qualifiers held yesterday at the Poipu Bay Golf Course.

Yanagi took medalist honors at the U.S. Women’s Public Links qualifier with a 4-over 76. Allisen Corpuz of Honolulu won a sudden-death playoff over Hilo’s Ciera Min for the second Hawaii spot at next month’s national tournament.

Kua finished with a 3-over 147, two strokes ahead of California’s Mark Scheibach for a spot in next month’s U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Miano and Hogue at QB Club

Hawaii associate head football coach Rich Miano and Bob Hogue, the Pacific West Conference commissioner, are the featured speakers at tomorrow’s Honolulu Quarterback Club luncheon. Lunch is $15 and begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Maple Garden restaurant. The program follows at noon.

Tennis qualifier deadline tomorrow

Tomorrow is the deadline for the U.S. Open National Playoffs Hawaii Pacific Sectional Qualifying Tennis Tournament, June 2-5, at Central Oahu Regional Park.

Registration is open at usta.com/tennislink. The entry fee is $125 for singles and $150 for a mixed doubles team.

For more information, call 585-9525 or email pampulov@hawaii.usta.com.