Margaret River Pro slated for Wednesday

The Drug Aware Margaret River Pro, the third stop on the Samsung Galaxy World Surf League Championship Tour, begins Wednesday with a competitive window that runs through April 26. A significant swell is forecast to arrive just in time for the event in Western Australia — the final event on the Australian leg of the tour.

Defending WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (Brazil) is currently ranked ninth in the world following a fifth-place finish at Bells Beach last week and is looking to better his quarterfinal finish at last year’s Drug Aware Margaret River Pro to remain in contention for the 2015 world title.

Last year’s event winners, Michel Bourez (French Polynesia) and Hawaii’s Carissa Moore, are back to defend their titles. Moore enters the event as No. 1 in the world and will wear the leader’s jersey after an excellent start to 2015 via back-to-back wins in the Gold Coast and Bells Beach tournaments.

Current No. 2 on the WSL Qualifying Series and former CT surfer Alejo Muniz (Brazil) has been selected as the wild card for the event. Muniz will face Medina and Freddy Patacchia Jr. (Hawaii) in the first round.

Moreno earns PacWest newcomer award

Chaminade pitcher Luana Moreno earned Pacific West Conference Softball Newcomer of the Week honors, her first weekly conference accolade, the league announced on Monday.

The redshirt freshman from Chula Vista, Calif., posted one of her finest pitching performances of the season in Friday’s victory at BYU-Hawaii, tossing a shutout — the Silverswords’ first of the season. In the win she scattered five hits with two walks while striking out two to notch her fourth win of the season.

Garcia collects PacWest pitching honor

Hawaii Pacific junior Rico Garcia was named PacWest Pitcher of the Week on Monday, his second weekly honor.

The right-handed pitcher and Saint Louis alum threw a shutout against Hawaii Hilo last week, allowing just two hits and one walk. He recorded 11 strikeouts for the second straight game after also accomplishing the feat at Point Loma in his previous start.

Garcia currently ranks second in the PacWest in strikeouts (67) and third in ERA (2.35).

UH Hilo golfers tied for 14th in California

The Hawaii Hilo men’s golf team is tied for 14th after compiling a 36-hole score of 615 (39-over-par) on Monday at the Hanny Stanislaus Invitational at Turlock (Calif.) Golf & Country Club.

The Vulcans opened the tournament with a 297 and were tied for fifth place before a second-round 318 pushed the team near the rear of the 18-team field.

Dalen Yamauchi is tied for 22nd place to lead the Vulcans at 150 (72-78).

Cal State Monterey holds the team lead at even-par 576, while Monterey’s Anton Rosen leads all golfers after carding a 6-under-par 138.