5 PacWest teams ranked in West Region

The NCAA released its first rankings in Division II basketball on Tuesday and the Pacific West Conference has five schools ranked in the West Region. For the men, California Baptist is second, Dixie State is fifth, Chaminade eighth and Dominican ninth.

For the women, Academy of Art is ranked tenth.

Eight teams from the eight regions qualify for the NCAA D-II tournament. For the PacWest, the tourney champion receives the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAAs.

California Baptist has clinched the No. 1 seed for the PacWest tournament, March 6-8.

UH sits in 15th,17th in Burns tourney

The Hawaii men’s golf team finished the first day of the 38th John A. Burns Intercollegiate on Wednesday at the Wailua Golf Course. The B team is in 15th place, having shot a 297; the A team shot a 299, good for 17th.

Leading the B squad is Ryan Kuroiwa and his 1-over 73; he’s tied with 10 others for 30th overall. For the A squad, Nainoa Calip also shot a 1-over 73.

Three-time defending champion California sits atop the leaderboard with a 10-under 278. Arizona’s Erik Oja is the individual leader with an 8-under 64.

Hawaii Hilo is in 16th place. Kyeton Littel and Dalen Yamauchi are tied for 40th overall with 2-over 74s.

Play continues Thursday.