PRINCEVILLE — After enjoying themselves at a banquet, filled with fine food and great entertainment on Thursday night at the Aloha Beach Resort, it was all business on the Princeville’s Makai Course on Friday, as the host school, Western Kentucky
PRINCEVILLE — After enjoying themselves at a banquet, filled with fine food and great entertainment on Thursday night at the Aloha Beach Resort, it was all business on the Princeville’s Makai Course on Friday, as the host school, Western Kentucky made its guests feel a bit unwelcomed with a torrid 20-underpar 556 after 36 holes of play to pull ahead of the Sixth Annual Kaua‘i Collegiate Cup.
The Hilltoppers, the 2002 Kaua‘i champs, were led by Brent Long, who fired a 9-under-par 135 and individualist Ryan Waialae’s 7-under-par 137.
Waialae, who’s father, Roger is the head coach of West Liberty State, was born in Waianae.
Towson University of Maryland are nine shots back with an 11-under-par 565 tally. Northern Illinois is a shot back of Towson at 10-under-par 566.
British Columbia (5-over-par 581), West Liberty State of West Virginia (18-over-par 594), and first-time participant BYU-Hawai‘i (46-over-par 622) rounded out the field.
Towson senior Billy Wingerd, who is the defending Colonial Athletic Conference champion, sits just two shots behind Long with a smokin’ 7-under-par 137.
Four golfers tied for the fourth spot, as Northern Illinois’ Nicholas Schenk, British Columbia’s Blake RoweSleeman, the defending champion of the Kaua‘i Collegiate Cup, West Liberty State’s Matthew Hicks, and Towson’s Chris Baloga, all shot 6-under-par 138’s.
After the first 18 holes, Towson was up by one shot over Western Kentucky, but according to the Hilltopper head man, Brian Tirpak, the winds played a big role in the scores yesterday. “They (the winds) were down in the morning, then they started to pick up by mid morning, but luckily they were down again in the afternoon, so I think that played a factor in the results at first,” Tirpak said.
Towson head coach Brian Yaniger, whose golf program is the most successful sport on campus mentioned that the team came in with little playing experience.
“Oh yeah, I was pleasantly surprised after the first 18 holes, considering that we haven’t practiced that much this year, because of the snow and bad weather, so it’s good to get in some nice weather, so we can actually get some rounds in,” Yaniger said. All five Tiger golfers were under par on their round. Towson
also set a new school record with its 12-under-par 276.
Western Kentucky’s Sam Smith, who hails from England, is the only individual to have played four years in the Kaua‘I Collegiate Cup. Smith, whose parents, John and Julie, made the trip from England to Kaua‘i to watch him play, shot an even-par 144, which put him in 14th place. Full event results can be found in the scoreboard section on page B2. The Kaua‘i Collegiate Cup’s final round will happen today around 10 a.m. Admission if free for the event at the Princeville Golf Course’s Makai Course.
