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LA QUINTA, Calif. \u2014 Junior Dane Watanabe<\/a> 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). #HawaiiMGOLF<\/p>\n \u00a0
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\nWatanabe’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<\/a> (2024) and former UH standout Skye Inakoshi (2014).
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\nStarting 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.
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\nWatanabe’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.
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\nThe Rainbow Warriors received strong supporting performances to aid their climb up the leaderboard. Nathan Szpakowicz<\/a> 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<\/a> sits in a tie for 30th after recording his second consecutive 75, while Chris Salem<\/a><\/a> is tied for 38th with a total of 152 following a second-round 77.
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\nThe Rainbow Warriors remain in prime position to shatter their best-ever finish at the conference championship as they prepare for Tuesday’s final round.
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\nT2. Hawai’i \u2014 293-281=574 (-2)
\nT2. Dane Watanabe<\/a> \u2014 71-65=136 (-8)
\nT12. Nathan Szpakowicz<\/a> \u2014 74-70=144 (E)
\nT12. James Whitworth<\/a> \u2014 73-71=144 (E)
\nT30. Alec Hilgers<\/a> \u2014 75-75=150 (+6)
\nT38. Chris Salem<\/a><\/a> \u2014 75-77=152 (+8)
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