Early heats in the $70,000 OP Pro Championships, the first jewel in the 15th annual Triple Crown of Surfing, were contested yesterday in 4- to 8-foot waves at Haleiwa's Alii Beach Park. OP Pro is under way
at HaleiwaThe Triple Crown, actually seven events offering about $325,000 in prize money, is sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals and sponsored by G-Shock.
The OP Pro has a $60,000 men's event, a $10,000 women's event and the OP Junior, offering a $2,500 scholarship to the winner.
A mix of veteran and novice surfers worked through the six-man first-round heats and the first four four-man heats of round 2.
Tony Ray, a 32-year-old big-wave veteran who won his first heat, had a few words of caution for the newcomers. "Be careful," he said. "You just gotta watch out all the time here. The waves can pound you."
Men's competition was to continue and the women were to begin their event today, surf permitting.
The University of Hawaii men's volleyball team is ranked fifth in the Volleyball magazine preseason rankings. UH men fifth in volleyball poll
The No. 1 pick is Brigham Young, followed by UCLA, Pepperdine and Long Beach State. Rounding out the top 10 are Indiana/Purdue-Ft. Wayne, Ohio State, Stanford, Penn State and USC.
The Special Events Arena will be the site of the 1998 NCAA men's championship, April 30 and May 2.
Hawaii opens the preseason Saturday with its Block Party intrasquad scrimmage. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.
Returning players Sivan Leoni, Clay Stanley and Mason Kuo head the Green team. Naveh Milo and Jason Salmeri are the White team veterans.
CHAMINADE, UH-HILO HONOR ROLL: Chaminade volleyball players Doris Bikar and Danielle Robins were named to the Academic All-Pacific West Conference team and University of Hawaii at Hilo's Heather Wride was a second-team selection.
Bikar, a junior majoring in International Studies, carries a 3.18 grade point average. Robins, a senior, has a 3.35 GPA in Sociology. Wride, a junior, has a 3.34 GPA in mathematics.
BYUH, HPU HIGH ON TENNIS LADDER: Brigham Young-Hawaii is No. 3 and Hawaii Pacific No. 10 in the NAIA national men's tennis ratings announced yesterday and both schools have nationally-ranked men and women players.
In men's singles, Hawaii Pacific sophomore Eric Sandblom is No. 10, BYUH junior Wei-Yu Su No. 11, BYUH junior Anirban Baruah No. 16 and BYUH sophomore Toshi Matsui No. 28.
In men's doubles, Matsui and Su are No. 2 in the nation.
In women's singles, BYUH's Karin Plaszek and Paiao Short are ranked second and fourth, respectively, and together they are rated No. 3 in doubles.
SEASON-OPENING SPECIAL: The season-opening University of Hawaii women's basketball tournament, the Hawaiian Regent Classic, Nov. 21 and 23, has been designated "Kids Weekend."
Fans who purchase tickets before game day will receive a second ticket at equal or lesser value for the same day free. The offer is good for both days of the tournament.
The Rainbowtique also will distribute pins. Fans who display the pins at the Rainbowtique will receive a 10 percent discount on merchandise and a number of prizes will be given away.
Also, the Rainbowtique will distribute coupons good for a $1 discount on tickets for the Wahine Basketball Classic, Nov. 28-30.
GRAND SLAM TICKET/ROOM PACKAGES: Tickets to the Nov. 16-18 MasterCard PGA Grand Slam -- featuring Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Davis Love III and Justin Leonard -- at Kauai's Poipu Bay Golf Resort and accommodations at the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort and Spa are being offered by Hyatt for $195 per night.
The package includes passes to all three days of the tournament.
Call 742-1234 for reservations.
SANDHOFF ALL-LEAGUE PICK: Soccer player Kimberly Sandhoff, a 1997 Pearl City High grad, was named to the Carolina Athletic Association second team after her freshman season at East Carolina University.