UH-Hilo senior Jared Kinoshita felt right at home and fired a 6-under 66 in a tie for third at the 28th annual Amer Ari Intercollegiate in the first round Thursday at the Waikoloa Kings course.
Zach Bauchou, from defending national champion Oklahoma State, leads the field with a 9-under 63. Oregon’s Ryan Gronlund was second at 7-under 65.
Tied for third was OSU’s Viktor Hovland, the No. 3 ranked amateur in the world. Oregon’s Sam Foust and Texas Tech’s Kyle Hogan also shot 66. No. 1 USC’s Justin Suh, the defending tourney champ, shot a 68.
The Cowboys, who are also the defending Ameri Ari champions, took the first-round lead with a 27-under 267 total. Texas Tech is two shots back, Oregon four back, and No. 2 Georgia Tech and No. 8 USC are at 10 strokes back.
The Vulcans are tied for 12th in the 18-team field and ahead of Hawaii by 12 shots.
Other UHH golfers include Taylor Patrick, 71; Warren Miller, 74; Andrew Otani, 74; and Evan Merrier, 75.
The UHH’s softball team’s offense ran hot and cold in a doubleheader split on Thursday at the Dixie State Classic in Utah, edging Montana State Billings 7-6 and falling to Colorado State Pueblo 3-1.
Against CSU Pueblo, UHH’s Brinell Kaleikini hit a solo homer, then Thunderwolves pitcher Samantha Riesen finished with a four-hitter in the 3-1 victory.
Valerie Alvarado took a hard-luck loss. She spun a three-hitter but gave up three runs. She whiffed six and walked two in the complete-game loss.
Isabelle Mejia had two of UHH’s three hits.
Against the Yellowjackets, Rayla Jacobs-Kea clobbered a three-run homer and batted 3 for 4 with three RBIs to lead UHH’s 7-6 win.
Kaleikini added two hits, and Kimberly Olivas went 2 for 3 with two RBIs to lead UHH’s 10-hit attack.
Mejia pitched six innings, gave up six runs but struck out nine for the win. Leah Gonzales pitched a scoreless inning for her second save.
