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 four par-five holes at Ghost Creek, making birdies on three of them.

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

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John Cook and Mark O’Meara 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. 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 10.19 seconds, with Britain’s Ian Mackie second.

Pro Basketball

Why would Charles Barkley want to go to Houston?

“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.”

Barkley spoke at a news conference to announce the four-for-one swap that sent him 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

Alan Bond, best known for financing Australia’s yachting victory over the United States in the 1983 America’s Cup, was sentenced to three years in prison for fraud.

Bond, 58, had been convicted on four charges of defrauding his corporation over the purchase for $1.89 million and resale for $13 million of “La Promenade,” a French impressionist painting by Eduard Manet.

Darren Perkins and Todd Wetzel each scored two goals and Victor Gervais had five assists as the Anaheim Bullfrogs defeated the Los Angeles Blades, 7-5, at Anaheim in the first game of their best-of-three Roller Hockey International playoff series. Game 2 is tonight at 7:30 at the Forum.

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.