Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, July 17, 1997

PBL will play title game
at Blaisdell Arena

The semipro Pacific Basketball League has moved its inaugural championship game to Blaisdell Arena, July 26, according to league marketing/promotional director Randy Miyamoto.

The PBL regular season concludes with three games tonight at Palama Settlement starting at 6:30. The first round of two playoff games will be played there next Tuesday night, beginning at 6:15.

The top four teams in the standings have already clinched playoff spots. They are the Honolulu Alii (7-2), Mauka Boars (6-3), Leeward Lightning (6-3) and Makai Hurricanes (5-4). The North Shore Blue Fins (3-6) and Windward Trades (0-9) round out the league.

Going into tonight's games, the Boars' Chris Walz leads the league in scoring at 17.2 points per game (George Gilmore of the Hurricanes is averaging 17.5, but has played in only six games).

James Cooks of the Hurricanes is tops in rebounds with 11.8 per game and Marco Johnson of the Alii is the assist leader with 5.8 a game.

FUJITA LONE SURVIVOR: At Lexington, Ky., Del-Marc Fujita was the only Hawaii survivor after the first round of the U.S. Amateur Men's Public Links Championship yesterday.

Fujita defeated Dave Christensen of Elk River, Minn., 3 and 2, to advance to today's second round at the Kearney Hill Golf Links.

Maui's Royden Heirakuji and Damien Jamila of Waimanalo, the other two Hawaii qualifiers, were eliminated. Heirakuji lost to James Edmondson of Houston, 4 and 3, while Jamila was ousted by Mark Tedder of Tigard, Ore., 3 and 1.

CELEBRITY BOX CAR RACES: The Mayor's Cup Celebrity Box Car Challenge will be held Saturday at the Triple Hospital parking lot.

The Sportscasters Challenge Race starts the festivities at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Mayor's Cup Race at 11 with the winners racing the mayor at noon.

American Box Car Racing International competition starts at 1 p.m.

Box car rides are available for $1. For information, call 947-3393.

IN-LINE SKATE PROGRAMS: The Wheel Thing is offering beginner skate training and skate workout training at the University of Hawaii, the downtown YMCA and the Mililani YMCA in August and September.

For information on course structure, fees, times and dates, call Tim Temple at 487-5283.

WOMEN'S MID-AM QUALIFYING: Local qualifying for the 11th U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Golf Championship will be Aug. 14 at the Mid-Pacific Country Club.

Women golfers - 25 and older by Sept. 6 with a USGA handicap index not exceeding 9.4 - are eligible to compete. Deadline to enter is Wednesday. For more information, telephone Keiki-Dawn Izumi at 247-1105 or the Mid-Pacific C.C. at 262-9765.