Chips Shots: UH ties for eighth in Thompson event

Hawaii tied for eighth Wednesday at its Donnis Thompson Invitational, its best finish of the year. Senior Ka‘ili Britos took eighth individually for her first top 10 of the season.

Seventh-ranked Arizona won the tournament for the eighth time, cruising to a 25-shot victory over 45th-ranked Ohio State. The Wildcats closed with their second straight 293 at Kaneohe Klipper, finishing at 11-over-par 875.

Hawaii fired 315 for a 926 total, a season low. UH also had a season-best 302 in Tuesday’s second round, leading to its best 36-hole score (611) of the year.

Arizona sophomore Manon Gidali earned medalist honors, closing with a 72 for a 54-hole total of 3-under 213 — one off the tournament record. It was two shots better than Ohio State’s Amy Meier (72).

UH got a 28th-place finish from freshman Nichole Cruz (79—232). She was followed by Liana Otake (82—237), Megan Inouye (80—239) and Charlee Kapiioho (80—240).

Gonzaga sophomore Alice Kim, a University Lab School graduate, finished 12th at 76—226. Jade Salvador (78—230) led Hawaii Hilo, and Kailee Kuehn (885—252) paced Hawaii Pacific’s three players.

Seattle sophomore Monica Keo (Punahou) shot 83—247, and Washington State freshman Nani Yanagi (Waiakea) went 84—248, while San Francisco sophomore Michelle Condry (Punahou) closed at 86—253.

State Amateur tees off

A field of 87 guys and high school senior Brittany Fan tee off in the Hawaii State Amateur Stroke Play Championship today at Pearl Country Club. The 72-hole event ends Sunday evening. John Oda, the state high school champion who is now a junior at Moanalua, is the defending champion.

Oda, who verbally committed to UNLV for the 2014-15 season, is playing in a foursome today with former Manoa Cup champs Brandan Kop and Jonathan Ota, along with Jared Sawada. Oda and Sawada shared local honors at last month’s Hawaii Pearl Open.

Shigeru Matsui will defend his senior amateur title. The seniors play 54 holes, with the low 12 and ties playing Sunday. The cut in the open division comes Friday, with the low 40 and ties playing the weekend.

Notes

» Maui’s Sam Cyr closed with a 69 Saturday to tie for 54th at the Asian Tour’s SAIL-SBI Open in New Delhi. He had a four-day total of 292. Chan Kim (72—281), the 2007 Hawaii State Amateur Stroke Play champion, finished eighth, eight shots behind the winner.

» Registration forms are out for the 17th annual Miss Hawaii Scholarship Golf Tournament, to be held May 31 at Pearl Country Club. Early bird deadline is April 16 and the cost is $450 per three-person team. To register, long on to at misshawaii.org/miss-hawaii-golf-tournament/. For more information, call 247-4121.

LOCAL ACES