Matadors Take Court Tonight

Cal State Northridge will open the men’s basketball season at 7:05 tonight with an exhibition game at home against Team Prestige, a group of former college players.

Coach Bobby Braswell has several returning letterman, including starters Brian Heinle, a 6-9 junior center, and guards Carl Holmes and Markus Carr.

The Master’s College men’s team opens at home tonight at 7:30 against Christian Heritage College.

GOLF

* Jason Gore of Valencia shot a two-under-par 70 in the final round of the second stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School on Friday at La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc and advanced to the qualifying school finals.

Gore, who played at Hart High and Pepperdine, finished at 70-76-71-70--287, one-under par.

Chris Zambri of Camarillo, who played at Westlake High and Arizona, qualified at 77-69-68-75--289.

Jeff Sanday of South Pasadena, who played at Cal State Northridge, stumbled in the final round and failed to qualify at 72-73-71-79--295.

The finals are Nov. 17-22 at Doral Resort and Spa in Miami.

* Sophomore Russell Surber, from La Canada Flintridge, shot five-under-par 67 on Friday to help Texas take the first-round lead in the Palmetto Dunes Collegiate Invitational at Hilton Head, S.C.

Surber, who played for Flintridge Prep, is tied for third place in the individual standings, two strokes back, and the Longhorns have a six-stroke lead over South Carolina.

Jason Semelsberger of UCLA, who played at Hart, is tied for eighth at 68 and the Bruins are tied for sixth.

Brandon DiTullio of Thousand Oaks is at 73 and Russ Fulgentis of Westlake Village shot 75 for the Bruins.

Michael Beard and Jason Allred of Pepperdine shot 74 and the Waves are 18th.

Tamie Durdin of Pepperdine, the No. 1-ranked college women’s player in the nation, shot 71 and is tied for second in the women’s standings.

Pepperdine is 11th, 18 strokes behind front-runner Louisiana State.

SWIMMING

* Travis Taylor of Crescenta Valley High made a commitment to attend Clemson.

Taylor won the Southern Section Division II 500-yard freestyle title in 4:31.64, the 18th-best high school time in the nation, and helped the Falcons win their second consecutive Division II championship.

AUTO RACING

* Ron Hornaday Jr. will start second in his NASCAR Busch series debut today in the Outback Steakhouse 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.