Hawaii Hilo and Tia Kuali`i both stood out at the Augustana Spring Fling with second place finishes to earn Team and Golfer of the Week. 

2023-24 Schedule and Results

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hawai`i Hilo's Tia Kuali`i, Sr., 5-3, Hilo, Hawai`i                                                                                                    
Hawai`i Hilo's Tia Kuali`i shot consistent rounds of 77 and 76 to land in second place at the Augustana Spring Fling at Palm Desert's Desert Willow GC. It was the Hilo's native best tournament finish in her five-year career as a Vulcan. That helped lead her team to a second-place finish as well, only behind tournament host, Division I Augustana. Kuali`i battled through both rounds with six bogeys on each 18 but also three birdies the first day and four birds the second. Augustana's Molly Stevens won the tournament (+4), but Kuali`i finished in front of 50 other players. 

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Hawai`i Hilo Vulcans                                                                                                                                                      
Hawai`i Hilo finished second in a field of nine teams at the Augustana Spring Fling. The Vulcans led after the first day (323) and improved by 15 strokes during round two, but winner Augustana improved by 31 shots to take the lead and tournament by four strokes. Tia Kuali`i finished second (see above) and UH Hilo had two other top 10 golfers---Elle Otani (fourth) and Kiersten Saludares (tenth). The Vulcans (+55) finished four shots ahead of third place Lubbock Christian and were in front of PacWest teams Dominican, Point Loma and Westmont. 

PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: The Augustana tournament featured three other PacWest teams in addition to UH Hilo, who finished at +55. Dominican finished fourth at +62, Point Loma was eighth (+68) and Westmont ninth at +72. Three PacWest golfers finished two shots behind Tia Kauli`i at +11----Dominican's Angelica Antonio and Claire Shubin and Point Loma's Kiara Hernandez. Westmont's top golfer at +13 was Mallory Hopper...At this week's Patriot Invitational at Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach, Biola (+79) finished eighth of 12 teams, followed by Academy of Art in tenth (+99) and Westmont (+127). No. 1 nationally ranked Dallas Baptist won the tournament by 26 strokes (+22). Biola's Brady Turnquist tied for eighth in the talented field at +11 (70-76-78) and Academy of Art's Nicole Yang tied for 11th at +12 (76-75-74).

LOOKING AHEAD: The countdown begins for the Pacific West Conference Championships, now less than a month away.  The three-day tournament will be held this year on the west side of the Big Island in Waimea, at the Mauna Lani Golf Club, April 15-17...Tune-ups continue April 1-2 when Point Loma, Hawai`i Hilo and Hawai`i Pacific will compete in Tucson at the WT Desert Invitational, and again later in that week (Apr. 5-6) in Goodyear, Ariz. at the RJGA Palm Valley Classic.