LIVERMORE, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University sophomore Keita Okada is on top of the leaderboard and HPU is tied for fourth after the first round of the 2022 Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks Invitational at the Poppy Ridge Golf Course.
 
Okada, from Tokyo, Japan/Bradenton, Fla. IMG Academy, fired a blazing 3-under-par 69 on the par 72, 6,968 yard course. Junior teammate Keli'i Kamelamela-Dudoit of Ho'olehua, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama fired his best round of the season with an even-par 72 to sit in a five-way tie for fourth after the opening 18 holes. Between Okada and Kamelamela Dudoit are Anson Pan of Academy of Art and Riley Kaercher of Montana State Billings in second at 1-under 71.
 
The Sharks posted a first round 302 that has them in a three-way tie for fourth as a team in the 16-team field. Montana State Billings leads with an 8-over 296, with Cal State East Bay a shot behind at 297 and Sonoma State three back at 299 in third. HPU is knotted with Simon Fraser and Cal State San Bernadino at fourth.
 
Okada recorded five birdies in the round, but suffered a triple bogey on the par 5 fifth hole, and consecutive bogeys at 11 and 12. But the Tokyo native finished strong with birdies at 17 and 18 to take the lead at 3-under.
 
Kamelamela-Dudoit played steady par golf. He birdied the fourth, but bogeyed the ninth and 11th, then bounced back with a birdie on the par 4 12th hole. He went par the rest of the way in for the 72.
 
Senior Ryan Torres of San Jose, Calif./Evergreen Valley posted a 6-over 78 as the third Shark, followed senior Ray Kim of Aiea, Hawai'i/Moanalua with an 83, and junior Hasee Nazir of Orange, Calif./Orange Lutheran carded an 85. Freshman Noah Daher of Cottonwood, Ariz./Mingus Union, playing as an individual, posted a 7-over 79.
 
The final round is set for Tuesday at Poppy Ridge. The Sharks start teeing off at 8:30 a.m. HST (10:30 a.m. PST), paired with the teams tied for fourth, CSU San Bernadino and Simon Fraser.