Kamehameha graduate Preston-Lee Ching had the hot hand for UH-Hilo playing in the Arizona heat on the first day of the Pacific West Conference golf championships.
Ching, of Hilo, shot a 1-over 73 on Monday and was tied for 12th, four shots off the lead at the Phoenix-area Wigwam Golf Course, where temperatures touched 96 degrees on a dry afternoon.
The Vulcans were tied for fifth in the field of 10 at 7-over 295. Holy Names (2-under 286) was in first place.
The Vuls were consistent. Among the group of 74 were Jared Kinoshita, Warren Miller and Taylor Patrick – all were tied for 16th – and Evan Merrier turned in an 83.
There were four golfers tied for the lead at 69 heading into Tuesday’s second round. The final round is Wednesday.
• In the women’s competition, everyone was chasing Academy of Art’s Anahi Servin, who shot a sizzling 8-under 64 to set a PacWest record.
For UHH, Dillyn Sakai and Kiri Oshiri both turned in 87s, Keely Kitamura was at 88 and Kimberly Katayama was another shot back after the first of three rounds.
Playing with just those four – Rachel Soans was unavailable because she was ill – the Vuls (63-over 351) were last in the nine-team field, 63 shots behind first-place Cal Baptist.
Servin held a seven-shot lead.