Woods in Perfect Position for Third U.S. Amateur Title

Tiger Woods was just where he wanted to be after the first day of qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship at Cornelius, Ore. And when he got there he saw a familiar face.

Woods, trying for an unprecedented third consecutive Amateur title, shot a two-under-par 69 on the Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Creek course Monday, one stroke behind Trip Kuehne, who played the same course.

The overall medalist midway through stroke-play qualifying was Jeff Gilchrist. The 24-year-old son of a Scotsman has been playing the Northern California amateur circuit and shot a four-under-par 67 at Ghost Creek.

“Overall, it’s a perfect start,” Woods said after he overpowered the par-five holes at Ghost Creek, making birdies on three of four of them.

The top 64 scores after Tuesday’s second round of stroke play will advance to match play competition beginning Wednesday.

*

John Cook and Mark O’Meara, friends and competitors since their early teens, held a one-shot lead halfway through the $700,000 Fred Meyer Challenge golf tournament in West Linn, Ore.

Players are divided into two-man teams in a best-ball format. First place winners split $100,000. Cook and O’Meara combined for a 10-under-par 61. Mark Calcavecchia and Billy Mayfair were second at 62.

Track and Field

Just like the defense of his Olympic 100-meter title, Linford Christie’s last scheduled appearance in British colors ended prematurely with a knee injury at a meet at Gateshead, England.

Christie finished second to compatriot John Regis in the 200 meters, twisting his knee in the process. That prevented Christie from competing against Olympic champion Donovan Bailey at 100 meters. Bailey won in 10.17 seconds, with Britain’s Ian Mackie second.

Pro Basketball

Why Houston? Charles Barkley knows precisely.

“Because they wanted me,” he said. “I’m a 33-year-old power forward and you want people to want you and to respect you. For them to try as hard as they have in the last year and a half to get me, that made me feel special.”

The star forward spoke at a news conference to formally announce the four-for-one swap that sent Barkley from the Phoenix Suns to the Rockets for guard Sam Cassell, forwards Robert Horry and Chucky Brown and forward-center Mark Bryant.

Almost lost in the Barkley hoopla was Houston’s signing of 7-foot free-agent center Kevin Willis.

Miscellany

Luiz Acarias, a 49-year-old electrician, died from internal bleeding after being kicked and punched during a brawl between rival fans at Sunday’s game in Apucarana, Brazil, between the Caramuru and Caixa de Sao Pedro.

Todd Woodbridge continued his mastery over doubles partner Mark Woodforde, eliminating the 15th seeded player, 6-3, 7-5, in the first round of the du Maurier Open men’s tennis tournament at Toronto. . . . Quarterback Jim Kemp, just returned from San Diego where his father was nominated as the Republican vice-presidential candidate, was traded by the Montreal Alouettes to the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.