Jared Kinoshita has shot lower than this, but not by much and never with these stakes like these.
The UH-Hilo senior let his golf game come to him Monday, and all the while he was taking it to Waikoloa Kings’ Course, fashioning a record-tying 7-under 65 for a three-shot lead at the Dennis Rose Invitational.
Kinoshita said he shot 63 before, but never in a tournament, and his first-round effort tied the Vulcans record, held by Nick Mason, arguably the best golfer in program history.
“I didn’t hit the ball as good as my score reflected,” Kinoshita said, “but I made a lot of putts when I needed to with some very important birdies.”
The Vulcans were just two shots behind No. 2 Western Washington (280) in a tie for second with No. 7 Sonoma State after a birdie binge by Kinoshita on the back nine.
“I didn’t force anything and tried to let things happen,” Kinoshita said, “and luckily a few putts fell my way and birdies came.”
And came and came and came under favorable conditions: a slight breeze , some clouds and temperatures in the 80s, according to a UHH release.
On No. 13, the native of Bakersfield, Calif., stuck a wedge shot a foot from the cup for birdie to get to 4-under.
“Then I knew there were a few more birdies I could make down the stretch,” he said.
Michael Butler (Western Washington) and Isaiah Aguirre (Sonoma State) were tied for second at 68 and eight players were at 70.
Freshman Andrew Otani played his best round as a Vul, turning in a 71. Warren Miller and Taylor Patrick were both at 73.
Mason shot 7-under 65 during the 2003-04 season at the Stanislaus State Invitational, and he duplicated that the following year at the Pacific West Conference championship on a par-71 course. Daniel Kitayama reached 6-under 65 during the 2007-08 season at the Saint Martin’s Invitational.
Other UHH on Monday players were: Donavon Billena (75, first college match), Colton Servais (78), Noah Lau (80), Ryan Roodzant (81), Adam Chiya (82) and Evan Merrier (85).
Academy of Art was in fourth place at 288.
The second round begins at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday with the final round Wednesday.
Wahine sweep Domincan
Freshman Jodi Lillie scored her first collegiate goal and senior Jaimie Salas added another as the Vulcans dumped Dominican 2-0 in San Rafael, Calif., securing their first winning season since 2014.
• The UHH men notched their fourth win of the season, with senior Curtis Walker and freshman Devan Yoshimura each scoring their first goal and junior Matt Wilkinson netting his program record-tying 10th goal of the season in a 3-2 win against the Penguins.
