Vulcans golf across the isle

The UH-Hilo men’s and women’s golf teams each took part in tournaments on Monday and Tuesday in South Kohala.

•••

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.

•••

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.