Parker Coffin of Santa Barbara, Calif., dropped in for the highest single-wave score of 9.75 and Maui’s Kai Lenny debuted with a 9.5 as the World Surf League’s Sunset Open Men’s Qualifying Series 1,000 event got underway Thursday off Sunset Beach.
The 112-man field was cut to 38 with surfers taking on 15- to 20-foot waves. Although it was Lenny’s first QS event of his career, he had previous success in winning stand-up paddleboard divisions of the Sunset Beach Pro, Da Hui Backdoor Shootout and the SUP World Series Championship.
Current Hawaii regional champ Eli Olson (North Shore) had a 9.4 wave and defending event winner Keoni Yan of Hawaii was second to Olson in his heat to advance into Round 4.
Fourteen other Hawaii surfers advanced out of the Round of 64, including heat winners Kai Mana Henry, Benji Brand, Kaimana Jaquias, Billy Kemper, Kekoa Cazimero, Logan Bediamol, Finn McGill, Koa Smith and Sheldon Paishon. Organizers hope to finish the contest today, conditions permitting.
Orr, Looney propel Sharks men to victory
Chauncey Orr had 21 points and nine rebounds and Connor Looney added 17 points as the No. 7 Hawaii Pacific men’s basketball team beat BYU-Hawaii 91-79 on Thursday at the Neal Blaisdell Arena.
The Sharks, who have won seven games in a row, improved to 19-1 and 11-1 in the Pacific West Conference.
Tanner Nelson scored 31 points for the Seasiders (5-13, 3-9).
Hawaii Pacific women beat BYU-Hawaii
Gabriella Fotu and Breanna Mackenzie both scored nine points and 13 Hawaii Pacific players scored in a 61-47 victory over BYU-Hawaii in a women’s basketball game Thursday at Neal Blaisdell Arena.
The Sharks improved to 13-3 and 10-1 in the PacWest.
Kristin Baldwin finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds and Marian Sheikh had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Seasiders (8-9, 5-6).
