Good things happening for Keiley
Haiku’s Justin Keiley advanced from a U.S. Open local golf qualifier Monday and got an invitation to the NCAA championship Tuesday.
Keiley, a Baldwin graduate who is in his sophomore year at Brigham Young, fired a 72 to finish in a tie for fifth at the qualifier in Highland, Utah, on Monday. He won the playoff for the final spot to move on to a June 4 sectional.
The next day, the NCAA announced teams and individuals for the NCAA men’s championships. Keiley qualified as an individual and is in the West Regional at Stanford, which starts May 17. Women’s regionals start Thursday.
In another U.S. Open local qualifier, John Ellis, the 2011 Hawaii Pearl Open champ, was medalist at the local qualifier in El Dorado Hills, Calif., with a 7-under 65. He will also move on to a sectional qualifier.
Balentine in second place at WAC meet
Hawaii’s Samantha Balentine is in second place after the first day of the heptathlon a the Western Athletic Conference outdoor track and field championships on Tuesday in Moscow, Idaho.
She has 3,126 points and finished first in the high jump at 5 feet, 8.75 inches.
She trails New Mexico State’s Zoe Meade, who has 3,171 points with three events to go.
‘Iolani hires Obrey as coach
Kainoa Obrey is the new girls volleyball coach at ‘Iolani.
A 1999 graduate of the school, Obrey last coached at the varsity level at Mid-Pacific from 2008 to ’10.
Obrey replaces Jenic Tumaneng, who resigned because of job obligations, according to ‘Iolani athletic director Carl Schroers.
Obrey coaches year-round with the Kui Kahi Volleyball Club.
He is the brother of Teoni Obrey, the head coach of the Hawaii Baptist boys team.
UHH golfers move up to eighth
After a disappointing first round, Hawaii-Hilo moved up four places to eighth Tuesday in the NCAA Division II Central/West Super Regional Golf Championship at Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
The 17th-ranked Vulcans improved five shots, firing a 7-over-par 295 in the second round. Their two-day total of 595 is 28 shots off the pace set by sixth-ranked Chico State (294—567).
Brigham Young-Hawaii senior Jon Scolari shot a 5-under-par 67 to move into a share of seventh at 141. Scolari is competing as an individual. He is five shots behind leader Jim Knous (70), from Colorado School of Mines.
Sophomore Corey Kozuma (74) leads the Vulcans at 146 and is tied for 18th.
Simao is PacWest pitcher of week
Tyler Simao of Hawaii Pacific is the final Pacific West Conference pitcher of the week of the season.
Simao pitched a complete-game, six-hit shutout over Academy of Art, while striking out eight.
