LA QUINTA, Calif. — Junior Dane Watanabe fired a career-low and historic 7-under-par 65 on Monday to vault the University of Hawai'i men's golf team into a tie for second place after the second round of the Big West Championship. The Rainbow Warriors carded a team total of 7-under 281 at La Quinta Country Club, moving up three spots on the leaderboard with a 36-hole total of 574 (-2).
 
Watanabe's 65 stands as a monumental achievement for the program, officially marking the lowest single-round ever recorded by a Rainbow Warrior at the Big West Championship. The 7-under performance surpasses the previous benchmark of 66, which was shared by current teammate James Whitworth (2024) and former UH standout Skye Inakoshi (2014).
 
Starting the day in a tie for fifth, the Honolulu native surged into a tie for second place individually. Watanabe holds a two-day total of 8-under-par 136, trailing tournament leader Steen Zeman of Long Beach State by just three strokes heading into the final 18 holes.
 
Watanabe's record-breaking effort anchored a UH lineup that collectively shaved 12 strokes off its opening-round score. Hawai'i is currently tied with Cal Poly for the runner-up spot, sitting three strokes clear of fourth-place UC Irvine. Defending champion Long Beach State continues to distance itself from the pack, holding a commanding lead at 30-under-par (546) after posting a blistering 18-under 270 on Monday.
 
The Rainbow Warriors received strong supporting performances to aid their climb up the leaderboard. Nathan Szpakowicz jumped into a tie for 12th place overall after carding an impressive 2-under 70. Whitworth is also tied for 12th at even-par (144) for the tournament after turning in a steady 1-under 71. Alec Hilgers sits in a tie for 30th after recording his second consecutive 75, while Chris Salem is tied for 38th with a total of 152 following a second-round 77.
 
The Rainbow Warriors remain in prime position to shatter their best-ever finish at the conference championship as they prepare for Tuesday's final round.
 
T2. Hawai'i — 293-281=574 (-2)
T2. Dane Watanabe — 71-65=136 (-8)
T12. Nathan Szpakowicz — 74-70=144 (E)
T12. James Whitworth — 73-71=144 (E)
T30. Alec Hilgers — 75-75=150 (+6)
T38. Chris Salem — 75-77=152 (+8)