The UH-Hilo men’s and women’s golf teams each took part in tournaments on Monday and Tuesday in South Kohala.
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WOMEN’S GOLF
Tia Kuali’i finished at a five-way tie for No. 15 to lead the UH-Hilo Women’s Golf team to an 11th-place finish at the Southwest Airlines HPU Sharks Shootout this past week at the Waikoloa Resort Lakes and Beach Golf Courses.
The fifth-year senior finished Day 1 at a tie for 13th after shooting 73 with two of her three total birdies. Kuali’i posted a 75-shot Round 2 to finish at a plus-eight score.
Kiersten Saludares improved on her Round 1 score by three shots to shoot up 18 spots for an eight-way tie at No. 31 (plus-11) along with Trinity Ledgerwood.
As a team, UH-Hilo improved on its round score by four strokes to move up one spot for a tie at No. 11 with UT Permian Basin.
CSU San Marcos took the win with a plus-18 finish as the Cougars’ Madison Murr shot three-under for the top spot.
The Vulcans will have a few days off before closing the fall slate with competition hosting the same field of teams this weekend with the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate at The Village Course at Waikoloa.
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MEN’S GOLF
Facing a crowded field on its own island, the UH-Hilo Men’s Golf Team finished No. 6 at the Southwest Airlines HPU Sharks Shootout this past week at the Mauna Lani Golf North Course.
Junsu Im led the Vulcans with a five-way tie for 12th place with a one-under finish. The sophomore totaled eight birdies and two eagles, starting off the final round with just three shots on a par-5 Hole 2 as he finished with his lowest total of 70.
Competing as an individual, Nicholas Gomez improved on his second-round score by 10 strokes to post a lowest-round of 69 in the final 18. Gomez birdied on four consecutive holes as he finished plus-three at a four-way tie for 24th place.
UH-Hilo started strong with a 285 (minus-three) Round-1 score but ultimately slid back two slots for a sixth-place finish.
UT Permian Basin took the team win at minus-11 finish. CSU Dominguez Hills’ Francis Bautista defeated Sonoma State’s Colin Huang — both nine-under — in a playoff for the individual win.