Hilo women’s golf struggling in NCAAs

The Hawaii Hilo women’s golf team dropped to last place with a score of 664 in the NCAA Division II Super Region IV tournament at Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield, Texas, on Tuesday.

Kristen Sawada and Kacie Harada shot 83 for the Vulcans, who finished with 338 in the second round. Sawada is tied for 16th place in the tournament, and Harada is tied for 35th place.

St. Edward’s holds the lead with a 617, followed by Tarleton State (623) and Cal State East Bay (633).

Kozuma leads way for Vulcans men’s team

Hawaii Hilo’s Corey Kozuma trails by one stroke and is tied for third place at the NCAA Division II Men’s West/South Central Regional at the Grey Rock Golf Club in Austin, Texas. Kozuma shot a 71 in Tuesday’s second round to help boost the Vulcans into fifth place. He is at even-par 144.

Chris Shimomura is one stroke behind Kozuma and tied for sixth place (72-73–145), while Dalen Yamauchi is 3 over par at 147. Hawaii Hilo fell 10 strokes behind St. Edward’s, which leads the field at 585. The final round is Wednesday.

3 Hawaii Pacific coaches shuffle roles

Hawaii Pacific University announced the movement of three coaches in its athletics department Tuesday.

Women’s golf head coach Jim Utsugi will take over the men’s golf program next spring; women’s basketball head coach Reid Takatsuka has received a full-time office role; and men’s assistant basketball coach Jesse Nakanishi was promoted to associate head coach.

Utsugi has coached at HPU since 2013 and previously coached at Hawaii Baptist Academy. Takatsuka led the Sea Warriors to a program-best 19-7 record in 2012-13 and received PacWest Coach of the Year honors for that season. Nakanishi recently completed his third year at HPU and helped the team earn its first postseason win since becoming a Division II program.