HOUSTON,Texas--The University of Hawaii men's golf team opened up strongly at the 2003 WAC Championships shooting 290 (+2) in the first round at the Houstonian Golf Club in Texas. The Warriors are one stroke off the pace in second place and showed little wear-and-tear after just completing the Cougar Classic in Utah on Saturday.

Three Warriors in particular helped power UH. Senior Justin Kim had an outstanding showing and climbed into second place in the individual standings with a two-under-par 70. Kim is two strokes behind leader David Inglis of Tulsa, who shot a four-under-par 68. Also shooting under-par was junior James Beston who fired a first-round 71 to stand in a tie for third place. Senior Matt Kodama also had a solid day shoot an even-par 72 and is in a tie for seventh.

Tulsa is looking for its second straight title and leads after day one with a total of 289 (+1). The competition is a tight one with a total of four strokes separating the top six teams. Ten teams and fifty golfers are participating in this year's event.

Second round action resumes tomorrow with the 54-hole tournament concluding on Wednesday. First tee will be at 8 a.m.

Team Scores
1. Tulsa 289 (+1)
2. Hawaii 290 (+2)
3. UTEP 292 (+4)
Nevada 292 (+4)
Fresno State 292 (+4)
6. Rice 293 (+5)
7. Boise State 296 (+8)
8. SMU 300 (+12)
9. San Jose St. 303 (+15)
10. Lousiana Tech 305 (+17)

Hawaii Individual Scores
T2. Justin Kim 35-35=70 (-2)
T3. James Beston 33-38=71 (-1)
T7. Matt Kodama 34-38=72 (E)
T35. Kellen-Floyd Asao 35-42=77 (+5)
T46. Jaime Matsumura 40-=40=80 (+8)

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