IRVINE, Calif. – University of Hawai'i freshman Kotaro Murata captured the Big West Conference's Golfer of the Month award after a pair of Top 10 finishes in two highly competitive tournaments in February.
 
The Matsuyama, Japan native tied for 10^th place at the Amer Ari Intercollegiate in a field that included nine Top 30 ranked teams. Murata also tied for seventh in the John Burns Intercollegiate, which featured seven Top 50 ranked clubs.


Murata beat out 15 nationally ranked individuals at the Amer Ari after shooting 9-under 207 for the tournament with three rounds under par including consecutive rounds of 4-under 68 on the par-72, 7,074-yard Waikoloa Beach Resort's Kings Course. He finished four strokes behind medalist William Mouw of Pepperdine and Mason Anderson of Arizona State.


At the John Burns Intercollegiate, Murata carded a 4-under 212 total with his third round of 68 in the month. He also shot a 2-under 70 in the final round on the 6,991-yard, par-72 Wailua Golf Course.


Murata posted an under par score in 5 of 6 rounds, and he bested every Big West golfer in either tournament.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will next compete at the Grand Canyon University Invitational, March 13 & 14 in Phoenix, Ariz., followed by the National Invitational Tournament, March 16 & 17, in Tucson, Ariz.