Merkle tied for third in Women’s Publinx
Kristina Merkle (Moanalua ’09) carded a 3-under 69 and is tied for third after Monday’s first round of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in Neshanic Station, N.J.
Lakareber Abe of Angleton, Texas, and Cindy Ha of Demarest, N.J., share the first-round lead after both fired rounds of 4-under 68 at the Neshanic Valley Golf Course.
Kyung Kim, formerly of Maui and now based in Chandler, Ariz., is five back of the leaders after shooting a 1-over 73.
‘Iolani’s Rose Huang and Punahou freshman-to-be Allisen Corpuz both shot 2-over 74 and were bunched in a group of 20 players.
The other Hawaii entrants were Hilo’s Britney Yada (77); Lihue’s Kelli Oride (79), who was the medalist at the sectional qualifier earlier this month; Zoey Akagi-Bustin (80) and Hansol Koo (85).
After today’s final round of stroke play, the top 64 players advance to match play.
Okita, Sellitto head second HPU Hall of Fame class
Tony Sellitto, who led Hawaii Pacific University to the NAIA basketball championship in 1993, and longtime Sea Warriors softball coach Howard Okita head HPU’s second Hall of Fame class, announced Monday by the school’s athletics department.
Sellitto’s Sea Warriors went 30-4 and captured the first and only national collegiate basketball championship in the state in 1993. Sellitto led HPU to the NAIA tournament seven times and the NCAA Division II tournament once, and compiled a 307-153 record over 17 years.
Okita was a key member of the coaching staff that led HPU to the NCAA national championship in 2010. He has a lifetime record of 701-274 and led Hawaii Pacific to the postseason 12 times.
Men’s tennis standout Mikael Maatta, volleyball star Gabriela Artigas and women’s cross country runner Nina Christensen also are members of this year’s class.
The inductions will take place on Sept. 28 at a S.H.A.R.X (Supporting HPU Athletes to Reach eXcellence) benefit event at Aloha Tower Pier 10.
Pro wrestling hits Sports Festival
Hawaii’s pro wrestling promotion will put on its biggest performance to date when it takes center stage June 30 at the ESPN 1420 Sports Festival.
Action Zone Wrestling exhibition matches will take place throughout the daylong event at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, which will also feature sports clinics, demonstrations, keiki activities and appearances by local athletes.
AZW founder Daryl Bonilla said the organization was invited to be a part of the festival by KKEA (1420-AM) representatives who attended AZW’s live event in March.
Bonilla said his goal at the festival is to attract new fans and “get the AZW name out there to people that still may not know that not only is there an actual pro wrestling company in Hawaii, but that we have a thriving pro wrestling company in Hawaii.”
The Sports Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; admission is $4 at the door (children 15 and under are free).
On Sunday, AZW will celebrate its seventh birthday with its latest show, Anniversary Annihilation 7. The event starts at 7 p.m. at New Hope Leeward in Waipahu. Tickets are $20 general, $12 children. Visit www.actionzonewrestling.com for more information.
