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Honolulu’s Carissa Moore got off to a great start in the World Surf League’s championship tour season-opening contest, advancing to the final but falling to 17-year-old Caroline Marks 13.83 to 11.67 on Monday.
Moore is a three-time world champion. Marks is from Melbourne Beach, Fla.
“It’s incredible to be a part of women’s surfing,” Marks said after capturing the Quiksilver Gold Coast Pro in Australia, her first tour victory. “Carissa has always been my hero, and she still is. So, to have my first win over her is just incredible. I was actually laughing because the first time I came to this event I was in the trials and I just lost in the first heat every single time, so to now win the event is amazing. This has been the best event and best week of my life.”
In the men’s final, Brazil’s Italo Ferreira topped Kolohe Andino of San Clemente, Calif., in a tight final, 12.57 to 12.43.
The contest was held at Duranbah Beach in New South Wales.
Haleiwa’s John John Florence, who won world titles in 2016 and 2017, lost to Andino in the semifinals. Honolulu’s Seth Moniz, a rookie on the major tour, made it to the quarterfinals, as did defending world champion Gabriel Medina of Brazil.
On the women’s side, Malia Manuel of Wailua, Kauai, was eliminated in the semifinals.
SandBows stay at No. 6
A bye week didn’t affect Hawaii’s ranking in Monday’s AVCA Collegiate Beach Top 20.
The Rainbow Wahine (18-7) stayed at No. 6, remaining the highest-ranking Big West team. There was no movement among the top 12 teams, although defending national championship UCLA is no longer a unanimous No. 1.
The Bruins (26-1) received 24 of of 27 first-place votes after losing their first match on Sunday to No. 2 USC 3-2 at the Pac-12 North Invitational held at Stanford. The Women of Troy (20-4) received the other three votes.
The SandBows finish out the regular-season home schedule with the Queen’s Cup on Saturday and Sunday at Queen’s Beach and a single dual with Washington next Monday at the Ching Complex courts on campus. In the Cup field are No. 14 Loyola Marymount (19-8), Washington (6-8) and San Jose State (10-7).
Heen named Big West player of the week
University of Hawaii catcher/first baseman Callee Heen was named the Big West softball player of the week for the second time this season on Monday.
The junior from Hollister, Calif., batted a team-high .571 and led the Rainbow Wahine with six RBIs in their series sweep of Cal Poly last weekend. Heen also recorded a .750 on-base percentage with three intentional walks.
Heen leads the team with a .404 batting average with 11 homers, 35 RBIs and 21 walks this season.
Hilo’s Lee-Lehano PWC pitcher of the week
Hawaii Hilo junior pitcher Brandyn Lee-Lehano was named the Pacific West Conference baseball pitcher of the week on Monday.
In Hilo’s series against Hawaii Pacific, Lee-Lehano pitched a total of eight innings without allowing a run, gave up four hits, walked four and struck out eight.
The Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate is now 4-0 with three saves in 19 appearances this season.
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