WAILUA — Erik Oja of Arizona fired an 8-under 64, overtaking defending champion Joel Stalter of California to lead the opening round of the John Burns Intercollegiate golf tournament Wednesday at Wailua Golf Course. Stalter, who finished at 5-under 67,
WAILUA — Erik Oja of Arizona fired an 8-under 64, overtaking defending champion Joel Stalter of California to lead the opening round of the John Burns Intercollegiate golf tournament Wednesday at Wailua Golf Course.
Stalter, who finished at 5-under 67, set the pace for the three-time defending California team that finished with a 10-under 278 to lead the standings.
“It was easy when the wind is helping,” said Oja. “I birdied the last hole. This is a great course and a lot of fun to play on.”
Oja set the pace for Arizona who finished with a 285 while No. 12 Texas A&M holds the third berth at 286, led by Andrew Lister, finishing tied for fifth at a 2-under 70.
Brigham Young University, whose Justin Keily fired a 4-under 68 for third place, sits in fourth just a stroke behind Texas A&M at 287.
Gavin Green, tied for 10th with a 1-under 71, set the pace for New Mexico who sits at fifth place at 288.
Rounding out the leaders are Washington State (291), Long Beach State and UTEP (292), Colorado State, Pacific and UNLV (293).
University of Hawaii men’s golf completed the first day of play with the B team sitting at 297 and its A team in 17th place at 299.
Nainoa Calip, a senior, is the top finisher for the A squad, tied at 30th with a 1-over 73. Calip was 4-over following six holes before finishing his final 12 holes in 3-under par. During a 5-hole stretch, Calip, a native of Hilo, posted four birdies, three on par 5 holes.
Brian Lee and Scotty Yamashita each fired a 3-over 75 and are tied for 51st while David Saka and Skye Inakoshi fired 76 and are in 67th place.
Ryan Kuroiwa, a junior, leads the B team, tying with Calip at 1-over 73. Starting on the No. 10 hole, the Aiea, Oahu native played his final 10 holes in 1-under par, including nine straight pars and a birdie on the par 5 No. 18. Tommy Yamashita fired a 2-over 74 and is tied for 40th place.
Freshman Zachary Braunthal and sophomore Justin Chu each posted 75 on the B team while freshman Pono Tokioka, getting a gallery that included Beth Tokioka and Rep. James Tokioka, finished at 80.
“This tournament still has two more days,” Oja, a senior at Arizona, said. “I plan on hitting the beach for a couple of hours, enjoy some good Hawaiian food, and we’ll play again, tomorrow.”
The tournament continues Thursday with the first groups teeing off starting at 8 a.m. at the Wailua Golf Course.
Visit www.hawaiiathletics.com for more information, or to follow the action via live scoring.
