Briefs: Kim in U.S. Open

Former UC Irvine men’s golfer Kenny Kim begins play today at the 110th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Kim, who played on two Big West Conference championship teams at UCI, is scheduled to tee off today at 2:42 p.m. on the first hole. His tee time is 9:12 a.m. Friday on the 10th hole.

Kim qualified for the U.S. Open by shooting six-under 136 over 36 holes to tie for second at the June 7 qualifier at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento. Kim shot 69 in his first round and 67 in the second.

Kim earned second-team all-conference recognition in 2006, when he was fifth at the conference championship and posted four top-10 finishes that season.

- From staff reports

Bibona adds honor

Danny Bibona, a senior pitcher for UC Irvine in 2010 has been named second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn. for the second straight year.

Bibona, chosen first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball earlier this month, went 9-2 with a 2.48 earned-run average. The two-time Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year is the UCI career strikeouts leader with 332.

His UCI career included 31 victories and he was undefeated in conference play his final two seasons.

- From staff reports

Watanabe fundraiser

A fundraiser for Kent Watanabe, who remains hospitalized in Oregon after a brain aneurysm earlier this month , will be held Saturday at Lampost Pizza in Irvine.

Kent Watanabe is the father of Jourdan Watanabe, a former all-conference catcher for the Pirates who died in 2009 while sitting out a redshirt season.

Half the proceeds from sales that day will go the Watanabe family to help with medical expenses.

The address is 14450 Culver Drive #E.

A video of the event will be taken and later shown to Watanabe.

- From staff reports