UH’s Kua is WAC golfer of the week

University of Hawaii junior TJ Kua is the Verizon Western Athletic Conference golfer of the week for his performance in last week’s Amer Ari Invitational at Waikoloa Kings Course.

Kua, a Kamehameha graduate from Lihue, tied for 14th. Kua shot 69-71-70 to finish seven back of the leaders. It is his first weekly WAC award.

The Rainbows finished 18th in the 20-team field at 24-over 888. Fourth-ranked Oklahoma State won at 34-under 830. UH-Hilo, one of two Division II teams playing, was last at 892.

The Vulcans were led by Neil Cabico, who tied for 28th at 71–213 and earned Pacific West Conference golfer of the week honors.

Honokaa graduate Sean Maekawa (71–215), a senior at Oregon, tied for 49th. Maekawa was the 2007 state high school champion. Oregon State freshman David Fink (72–216), an ‘Iolani graduate and the 2010 Manoa Cup champ, tied for 41st.

The Rainbows host the 35th annual John A. Burns Intercollegiate on Feb. 16-18 at Turtle Bay.

Rainbow Wahine finish last at Arizona tournament

The Rainbow Wahine golf team finished last in the 16-team Wildcat Invitational yesterday. Seventh-ranked Arizona won its own tournament at the windy Golf Club at Vistoso in Tucson.

Hawaii opened Monday with rounds of 315 and 319 and closed with a score of 335 yesterday for a 969 total. The Wahine were led by junior Erika Lundberg, who tied for 52nd at 75–237. Sophomore Brigitte Baker was a shot back.

The medalist was Wildcats junior Isabelle Boineau, who closed with 73 and a total of 212. Arizona’s team score was 11-over-par 875, 11 shots better than Cal.

Oda is medalist at Pearl Open qualifying

Moanalua High freshman John Oda fired a 4-under-par 68 yesterday to earn medalist honors in the qualifying round for this week’s Hawaii Pearl Open.

The 14-year-old was one of 96 competing for 19 spots remaining in the tournament, which tees off Friday with 176 golfers at Pearl Country Club.

Richard Hattori, a 15-year-old Kalani High sophomore, and pros Ryan Acosta and Chris Souza tied for second at 70. Kevin Kyosuke Hara, 12, a seventh-grader at Kaimuki Intermediate, also got in by sharing fifth with Japan pro Junichi Haniu at 71.

Moanalua sophomore Eimi Koga finished in a four-way tie for 16th at 74 — the final qualifying number. That makes Koga the fifth female in the field, with Hawaii pros Ayaka Kaneko and Mari Chun, Japan pro Kaori Ohe and Japan amateur Yurika Ishida.

Last year Koga caddied for champion Akinori Tani. He is back to defend his title in a field that also includes PGA Tour winners Parker McLachlin, Dave Eichelberger and David Ishii.

2 have chance at McDonald’s honor

Two Hawaii players have been named semifinalists for the McDonald’s All-American high school basketball games that will be played March 30 in Chicago.

Rokas Cesnulevicius of the Hawaii Preparatory Academy boys team and Maiki Viela of the Lahainaluna girls team are among the more than 2,000 student-athletes chosen from around the nation by the McDonald’s All-American selection committee.

Rainbow Wahine lose tight match

Hawaii and Pepperdine split three singles matches yesterday, but the Waves won the doubles point by taking two of three matches to beat the Rainbow Wahine 4-3 in women’s tennis yesterday in Malibu, Calif.

Katarina Poljakova, Natasha Zorec and Alyssa Nafarrete won the singles matches for UH. Zorec and Mari Tadaki captured Hawaii’s lone doubles victory.

Hawaii Pacific rolls past Chaminade

Skye Savini scored 12 points and Jazzmin Awa-Williams and Paris Gravely added 10 each to lead Hawaii Pacific (15-4, 9-1 Pacific West) to a 71-29 women’s basketball victory over Chaminade (1-14, 1-7) last night at Blaisdell Arena.

Kayci Will scored six points with five rebounds to lead the Silverswords.

Hanson leads Silverswords in men’s game

Shane Hanson scored 20 points and Mamadou Diarra added 15 points and 19 rebounds to lead Chaminade (13-7, 6-2 PacWest) to a 72-65 win over HPU (10-12, 5-5) in men’s basketball at Blaisdell Arena.

LaBrent Chappell led the Sea Warriors with 15 points.