DuPONT, Wash. – Hawai'i Pacific University's Keita Okada struggled in Thursday's opening round of the 2021 NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional at The Home Course.
 
Okada, the PacWest Conference Freshman of the Year from Tokyo, Japan/Bradenton Fla. IMG Academy, shot a 6-over-par 78 on the par 72, 7,026-yard Home Course on a windy, cloudy day that featured occasional rain during the round.
 
Okada did not have a birdie in the opening round. He posted two double-bogeys and a bogey on the front side to make the turn at 5-over, then added a bogey on the back side for his 78.
 
Okada, playing as an individual is tied for 71st in the 86-player field.
 
Montana State-Billings Garrett Woodin leads the individuals by firing a 4-under 68 in the first round. Saint Martin's Tyler Fitchett and Colorado Mesa's Pablo Diaz are tied for second at 3-under 69. A total of 15 players are under par after the first round, with a total of 29 shooting par-or-better.
 
In the team competition, Montana State-Billings put up a 4-under 284, with Saint Martin's one back at 3-under 285. Western New Mexico is third at 2-over 290, with Western Washington and Sonoma State are tied for fourth at 3-over 291.
 
Okada is the second HPU golfer to play in an NCAA regional. Brian Keller played as an individual in the 2007 NCAA II West/Northwest Regional.
 
The top four teams and the top individual not a part of those teams advance to the NCAA Division II Championships at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., May 17-21.
 
The second round tee times on Friday start at 4:30 a.m. HST (7:30 a.m. PDT) at The Home Course.