Female Golfers Win Discrimination Suit

Nine female golfers who said they were given terrible tee times and denied other country club benefits because of their gender were awarded nearly $2 million Wednesday by a jury at Boston.

The amount of the damages--from a Superior Court jury of seven men and seven women--even surprised attorneys for the plaintiffs.

“I think it’s a case which puts country clubs and other institutions on notice that women have a right to the same opportunities as men,” said Assistant Atty. Gen. Anthony Rodriguez, whose office represented the women.

Henry Owens, the attorney for the Haverhill Country Club, said there was no discrimination at the club, called the damages excessive and promised to appeal.

Basketball

Derrick Coleman of the Charlotte Hornets was arrested on drunken-driving charges after his car collided with a tractor-trailer, injuring him and his two passengers at Charlotte, N.C.

Coleman had cuts and his nose and forehead. Hornet backup guard Eldridge Recasner had a partially collapsed lung and badly bruised chest and shoulder. Ebony Kimbrough was in fair condition.

Rap artist and producer Master P, whose real name is Percy Miller, was waived by the Toronto Raptors. . . . Forward Grant Long, one of Vancouver’s key off-season acquisitions, will be out at least four weeks because of a sprained left knee.

UCLA’s LaCresha Flannigan, a first-team all-Pacific 10 women’s basketball player last season, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on her right knee later this week and be sidelined at least a month. . . . Marquette center Greg Clausen will be out four to six weeks after undergoing surgery on his left knee.

The WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx traded three players to the Phoenix Mercury, including floor leader and all-star guard Tonya Edwards, in exchange for three others.

Minnesota sent Edwards and forwards Trish Fallon and Adia Barnes to Phoenix for forward Marlies Askamp, guard Kristi Harrower and guard-forward Angela Aycock.

Tennis

With Steffi Graf watching from the players’ box, top-ranked Andre Agassi swept Mark Philippoussis of Australia, 6-2, 6-4, to reach the third round of the $2.45-million Eurocard Open at Stuttgart, Germany.

Second-ranked Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia was upset by Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina, 6-3, 6-3.

Fourth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France moved into the quarterfinals of the $520,000 Generali Ladies tournament at Linz, Austria, defeating Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, 6-2, 6-2.

Miscellany

Young America settled into second place behind Italy’s untouchable Prada team in the challenger races for sailing’s America’s Cup off Auckland, New Zealand.

In races that ended a controversial and often-interrupted first round-robin, Prada defeated Hawaii’s Abracadabra 2000 for the second time and Ed Baird’s Young America defeated Paul Cayard’s AmericaOne.

In the much-anticipated first meeting of the American teams, Young America dominated AmericaOne, which experienced sail problems before the start.

Prada finished round-robin 1 with a 10-0 record. AmericaOne lost only to Young America and Prada, and Young America lost to Prada and Dennis Conner’s Stars and Stripes.

James Brooks, the Cincinnati Bengals’ career rushing leader, was found guilty at Cincinnati of failing to pay more than $107,000 in child support. He could be sentenced to two years in prison when sentencing is announced Nov. 24.

Defending champion Manchester United beat Croatia Zagreb, 2-1, to reach the round of 16 in soccer’s Champions League.

Others advancing were Lazio and Fiorentina of Italy, Rosenborg of Norway and Olympique Marseille of France.

Indy Racing League driver Davey Hamilton has confirmed he’s the owner of the new Supermodified Racing League that will hold races around the West starting in February.

Dave Wodka won his first PBA title by beating Steve Hoskins, 214-206, in the final of the Greater Detroit Open at Taylor, Mich.