Eight days from now, the best golfers in the world will tee off at the famed Augusta National for the 2015 Masters Tournament.

Notre Dame senior Kelli Oride will be busy preparing for the ACC Championships held the following week, but will have at least one eye glued to the TV set.

She won’t be watching to see if Tiger Woods makes a successful return or if Bubba Watson can claim a third Green Jacket in four years.

No, her focus will be on one hole in particular, the par-3 12th, nicknamed "Golden Bell," that is fronted by water with bunkers below and behind the green.

Any professional who shoots bogey or worse might draw a slight chuckle from the 2011 Kauai High graduate.

Why that hole?

"I’ve parred it," Oride revealed in a phone interview on Tuesday. "Whenever I watch the pros dump it in the water, it’s exciting to think I beat them on that hole."

College athletics allows athletes from all over the country to compete in places they never imagined. Many times, it’s trips abroad that most athletes reveal to be the most fun.

Oride has it about as good as anyone else in any sport. When she was a sophomore, the Fighting Irish golf team was rewarded the rare opportunity after playing a tournament at Augusta State to shoot a round at one of the most famous golf courses in the world — and it didn’t disappoint.

"It was the most beautiful course I have ever seen," said Oride, who also played overseas in Ireland last summer. "I thought the course was so hard, and they have caddies tell you exactly the lines you need to hit your putts and you look (at) them and think they must be crazy, because the ball isn’t going to go that far, but it does.

"Watching (on TV) these pros hit these shots into the greens, it’s incredible because you can’t believe how good they have to be to hit those shots."

Oride wouldn’t disclose what she shot for her round, but made sure to point out she had at least one par.

It was the highlight of many top-notch courses around the country she has had the pleasure of playing because of her status as a four-year golfer at Notre Dame.

Oride was ranked in the top 20 among juniors by both Golfweek and Junior Golf Scoreboard when she came to Notre Dame and admits she hasn’t done as well as she wanted.

She’s managed to improve her scoring average every year and is off to the best start of her career as a senior. Her scoring average is nearly two full shots less than her previous best.

"You know, I’ve been disappointed a lot throughout the years and put a lot of pressure on myself to do well, but I think putting that aside, my main focus now is ending on a high note," Oride said. "I’m really looking forward to regionals this year because Notre Dame is actually hosting it, so we have a good opportunity to make nationals for the first time."

Oride has finished in the top 40 in four straight events heading into the Bryan National Collegiate event starting Friday, which is the final tournament before the conference championships.

Notre Dame hosts an NCAA regional May 7-9 and nationals will be held at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla., May 22-27.

NOTES

Kan to represent USA at World University Games

Missouri sophomore Carly Kan was one of four outside hitters selected to play for USA Volleyball in the 2015 World University Games on July 2-12 in Gwangju, South Korea.

Kan, a 2013 Punahou graduate, was part of the U.S. Collegiate National Team that played in the Tour of China in 2014.

The roster was selected through the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 20-22 in Colorado Spring, Colo. along with an invitation-only training block held in January in Anaheim, Calif.

Kan was named an AVCA honorable mention All-American and earned AVCA All-Southeast Region honors as a sophomore while also winning the SEC scholar-athlete of the year award.

She led the Tigers averaging 3.27 kills per set and was second averaging 3.08 digs per set.

Kauai alumna Kukino named athlete of the week at CMS

Sarah Kukino, a senior on the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s tennis team, was named the CMS athlete of the week on Tuesday.

The 2011 Kauai High alumna has played a big role in the Athenas’ 14-11 overall record and No. 5 ranking in Division III.

The lone senior on the team led CMS to three wins last week over MIT, La Verne and Whittier.

Kukino went 2-0 at No. 3 singles, winning both in straight sets.

She was 3-0 at No. 2 doubles to complete a perfect week.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps is one of only two undefeated teams left in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and plays the other unbeaten school, Pomona-Pitzer, on April 10.

AROUND THE NATION

BASEBALL

» Ka’ai Tom, Saint Louis ’12: The Kentucky outfielder hit a two-out, two-run double in the top of the 12th inning to give the Wildcats a 5-4 victory over No. 1 LSU last Friday. Tom went 3-for-7 with a run, three RBIs and two stolen bases in a 12-10, 11-inning win over LSU on Sunday to win the series.

» Dane Fujinaka, Mid-Pacific ’11: The Sacramento State junior finished 5-for-11 with two doubles, two runs and six RBIs in a three-game sweep of New Mexico State over the weekend.

» K.J. Harrison, Punahou ’14: The Oregon State freshman went 5-for-11 with a run and two RBIs as the Beavers lost two of three against Cal Poly over the weekend.

» Christian Donahue, ‘Iolani ’14: The Oregon State freshman went 2-for-9 with a walk, two runs and a stolen base against Cal Poly.

» Kolten Yamaguchi, Konawaena ’11: The Pepperdine senior went 3-for-11 with a double, walk and a run scored in a three-game sweep of Portland over the weekend.

» Justin Protacio, Mid-Pacific ’11: The Kansas infielder went 3-for-11 with three walks and the Jayhawks lost two of three against Texas Tech over the weekend.

» Kewby Meyer, Kamehameha ’11: The Nevada left fielder went 2-for-10 with a triple, two runs and four RBIs to help the Wolf Pack win two of three against San Jose State over the weekend.

» Tanner Nishioka, ‘Iolani ’13: The Pomona-Pitzer center fielder went 5-for-13 with a double, homer, two walks and seven runs scored in two wins in three games against Occidental (Calif.) over the weekend.

» Tiras Koon, ‘Iolani ’11: The Willamette (Ore.) senior first baseman hit a three-run homer and drove in all four runs in a 4-2 victory over Linfield (Ore.) on Sunday to salvage a game in the series against the 24th-ranked Wildcats.

» Royce Komesu, Kailua ’14: The Whittier (Calif.) reliever allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in four innings with one walk and one strikeout to earn his first collegiate win in a 9-5 victory over Cal Lutheran on Friday.

» Landry Kiyabu, Hawaii Baptist ’11: The Cal Lutheran right-hander earned a two-inning save and didn’t allow a baserunner with one strikeout in a 9-3 win over Whittier (Calif.) on Saturday in the Kingsmen’s only win of the series.

» Trey Kamachi, Kapolei ’12: The Dixie State outfielder went 5-for-14 with two doubles, four runs and four RBIs in three wins over Academy of the Art last weekend.

MEN’S GYMNASTICS

» Joshua Yee, Thompson Academy ’12: The Oklahoma junior scored a 14.950 on vault and a 14.60 on the high bar on Saturday to help the Sooners claim their fourth straight MPSF championship and retain their No. 1 ranking in Division I.

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

» Tiana Montell, St. Joseph’s ’11: The UC Davis senior earned an at-large berth as an individual to the NCAA Berkeley regional. She was selected to compete in the all-around as one of the top five all-around scorers from teams that did not quality for the postseason.

SOFTBALL

» Kimberlee Souza, ‘Iolani ’11: The Washington catcher went 2-for-6 with a home run as the Huskies lost two of three against Oregon over the weekend.

» Nicole Arata, Campbell ’11: The Utah State third baseman went 2-for-9 with a homer and three RBIs to help the Aggies win two of three against Nevada over the weekend.

» Brittany Hawn, Castle ’12: The Stetson University third baseman went 4-for-9 with a double, three runs and three RBIs in a three-game sweep of Florida Gulf Coast over the weekend.

» Reina Furuya, Punahou ’12: The Penn State junior went 2-for-8 with a run and an RBI to help the Nittany Lions win two of three against Michigan State over the weekend.

» Maegan Tupino, Leilehua ’12: The Penn State outfielder had two hits, scored a run and drove in another against the Spartans.

» Kori Nishitomi, Maryknoll ’11: The Oregon State senior went 3-for-9 with a double, walk, run and an RBI as the Beavers lost two of three against California over the weekend.

» Mikela Manewa, Kapolei ’12: The Oregon State second baseman went 2-for-12 with an RBI against the Golden Bears.

» Brennalyn Nakamura, Lahainaluna ’12: The New Mexico State junior went 3-for-6 with a double, three walks and five runs scored in a three-game sweep of Utah Valley over the weekend.

» Haley Nakamura, Lahainaluna ’13: The New Mexico State sophomore went 2-for-4 with three walks and three runs scored against Utah Valley.

» Nue Sivia, Waianae ’14: The New Mexico State freshman hit a two-run homer in a 10-0 win over Utah Valley in the series finale on Saturday.

» Tori Hamura, Mid-Pacific ’11: The Pacific Lutheran senior finished 4-for-10 with a double, a walk and two RBIs in a four-game sweep of Lewis & Clark over the weekend.

» Kailyn Osaki, Assets ’13: The Pacific Lutheran sophomore finished 3-for-11 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base against the Pioneers.

» Thalen Masada, Punahou ’13: The Pacific Lutheran leadoff hitterfinished 2-for-12 with a walk, three runs and a stolen base against Lewis & Clark.

» Jessica Wallace, Lahainaluna ’13: The Pacific Lutheran catcher singled and drove in two runs against the Pioneers.

» Ateisha Norton, Kamehameha ’14: The Lewis & Clark freshman finished 5-for-13 with three doubles, a walk and three RBIs against Pacific Lutheran.

» Tiana Rosario, Campbell ’13: The Lewis & Clark infielder went 3-for-15 with a stolen base and two runs against Pacific Lutheran.

» Paige Salavea, University ’14: The Lewis & Clark freshman had a pinch-hit RBI single in her only at-bat of the series against Pacific Lutheran.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

» Alyssa Tobita, Mililani ’14: The Oregon freshman earned the Ducks’ first point in singles play with a win over the No. 46-ranked player in the country in a 5-2 loss to No. 4 UCLA on Saturday.

» Karly Pang, Hawaii Baptist ’12: The Marist (N.Y.) junior won 8-1 at No. 1 doubles and in straight sets in No. 2 singles in a 7-0 win over Rider on Sunday. Pang also swept her No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles matches in a 4-3 loss to Fairfield (Conn.) on Saturday.

» Kanani Kea, Kamehameha ’13: The Pacific (Ore.) freshman didn’t drop a point in a straight-set victory at No. 5 singles and also won at No. 3 doubles in the Boxers’ 7-2 win over Hope International last Thursday.

MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

» Justin Higa, ‘Iolani ’11: The Puget Sound senior finished in fifth place in the men’s 500-meter run with a time of 15 minutes, 40.80 seconds at the Peyton Scoring Meet on Saturday.

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

» Sammy Marumoto, Punahou ’14: The UCLA freshman recorded a personal best in the pole vault with a mark of 13 feet, 1/4 inches to finish in second place at the Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invitational on Saturday.

» Joshlyn Noga, Kahuku ’11: The Charleston Southern senior finished in ninth place in the women’s shot put with a throw of 12.26 meters at the Winthrop Invitational last weekend.

» Brigitte Russo, Punahou ’11: The Lewis & Clark junior finished in 13th place in the women’s shot put with a throw of 11.05 meters at the Willamette Invitational on Saturday.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

» Micah Christenson, Kamehameha ’11: The Southern California setter had a season-high 68 assists, 16 digs, four kills and a block assist in a five-set win over UC Santa Barbara on Friday and had 52 assists, 19 digs, two kills, a block assist and an ace in a five-set victory over UCLA on Saturday.

» Larry Tuileta, Punahou ’14: The USC freshman outside hitter had 13 kills, seven digs, a solo block and a block assist against the Gauchos and 13 kills, 12 digs and an assist against the Bruins.

» Josh Taylor, Punahou ’11: The Pepperdine senior outside hitter hit .488 with a match-high 23 kills, six digs and two block assists in a five-set victory over Cal State Northridge on Saturday.

» Evan Enriques, Kamehameha-Hawaii ’14: The Stanford freshman had a team-high 11 digs in a four-set loss to Cal State Northridge on Friday.

» Gabriel Vega, ‘Iolani ’12: The Stanford middle had nine kills, four digs, two block assists and two aces against the Matadors.

» Sky Engleman, Moanalua ’14: The Grand Canyon freshman had 10 digs, two assists and a kill in a five-set loss to Lindenwood on Saturday.

Compiled by the Star-Advertiser’s Billy Hull. To submit an athlete for publication, email bhull@staradvertiser.com.