UH-Hilo men’s golf team has an “outside shot” at a team title, coach Earl Tamiya said.
The Pacific West Conference championships tee off Monday in Litchfield Park, Ariz., with six men’s teams and seven women’s teams competing for an automatic bid into the NCAA West Super-Regional.
Tamiya said his top three golfers, Andrew Otani, Dustin Franko and Keith Ng “have to match up with the field.”
Then, the Vulcans will need Noah Lau and Nicholas Gomez to do their job as well.
Otani is the team’s hottest golfer. The junior earned PacWest golfer of the week for his performance at the Hawaii Challenge.
Otani pushed past HPU’s Ryan Torres by recording a birdie on the first playoff hole to capture the individual title. Finishing at even-par 72, it was the first time Otani has received medalist honors this season.
“He’s been hitting the ball well,” Tamiya said.
Kaelyn Uchida carries the highest scoring average for the UHH women.
Point Loma enters the women’s tournament as the defending champions. Three-time champion Anahi Servin of Academy of Art will play as well.
For the men, Academy of the Art enters the tournament as the defending team champion. HPU’s Keita Okada is the defending individual champ.