Stadler Qualifies for First U.S. Open Field Since 1994
Craig Stadler qualified Wednesday for his first U.S. Open since 1994, while former PGA champion Bob Tway and two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw failed to make it to Pebble Beach.
Stadler was among 20 players at Summit, N.J., who advanced from the last sectional qualifier that finalized the 156-man field for the 100th U.S. Open, which starts next week.
Among other PGA Tour players who qualified were Tucson Open winner Jim Carter, Craig Parry, Rocco Mediate and Frank Lickliter.
Brothers Jumbo and Joe Ozaki were among those who failed to qualify, along with Chip Beck and Fuzzy Zoeller.
Hockey
Edmonton Oiler Coach Kevin Lowe resigned amid speculation he will join his former boss Glen Sather with the New York Rangers.
The resignation was a formality that does not necessarily mean Lowe will leave the Oilers. Negotiations between Lowe and the Oilers have stalled, leading to the resignation Monday that was not announced until Wednesday.
Colorado Avalanche goalie Marc Denis, a former first-round draft pick who served as the backup to Patrick Roy, was traded to the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets for the 32nd pick in this month’s NHL draft. Denis, 22, went 9-8-3 with three shutouts in 1999-2000, his first full season with the Avalanche. . . . The Minnesota Wild signed its first goaltender, David Brumby, who led the East Coast Hockey League with seven shutouts last season.
Jurisprudence
Blood from a defendant in the trial that once included NFL star Ray Lewis was on one of two men stabbed to death after the Super Bowl, a crime scene technician testified at Atlanta.
The technician, Dawn Pierce, said that blood from Reginald Oakley was found on the coat Jacinth Baker was wearing when he and Richard Lollar were killed.
Three former Providence College basketball players were indicted by a state grand jury for an off-campus fight that left two students injured. Guard Donta Wade and centers David Murray and Llewellyn Cole were charged with felony assault, conspiracy and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Miscellany
Former Minnesota Viking quarterback Randall Cunningham agreed to join the Dallas Cowboys as a backup to Troy Aikman, CNN-SI reported. . . . Tight end Greg Clark, a key blocker and rising receiving threat for the San Francisco 49ers, signed a three-year, $6.7-million contract.
With world champion Maurice Greene sidelined because of an intestinal infection, veteran sprinter Dennis Mitchell took the 100-meter dash at a track meet in Milan, Italy. Mitchell won in 10.33 seconds.
Illinois is pursuing Oklahoma basketball Coach Kelvin Sampson for the Illini job vacated two weeks ago by Lon Kruger, who left to coach the Atlanta Hawks. . . . Kentucky withdrew the scholarship of basketball recruit Michael Southall after he pleaded guilty to drug charges.
In the last day of trading in the Arena Football League, the Avengers sent veteran lineman Eric Drakes to Oklahoma for defensive specialist Delvin Myles and future considerations.
Women’s Basketball
Cynthia Cooper scored 20 points as the Houston Comets shot 59% and rolled past the Washington Mystics, 81-54, at Washington. . . . Vickie Johnson had 22 points and 12 rebounds as the New York Liberty beat the Detroit Shock, 73-69, at Auburn Hills, Mich., for its first road victory. . . . Eva Nemcova tied her career high with 23 points and Chastity Melvin scored six of her 22 in overtime as the Cleveland Rockers defeated the Orlando Miracle, 83-79, at Cleveland. . . . Brandy Reed scored 24 points as the Phoenix Mercury routed the visiting Seattle Storm, 82-49.
Jayne Even, a forward for the North Dakota State women’s basketball team, has won the Honda Award as the NCAA Division II collegiate woman athlete of the year after leading the Bison to the national title game. . . . Twenty-four former players and coaches will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend in Knoxville, Tenn. The honorees include former Cal State Fullerton player Nancy Dunkle, Louisiana State Coach Sue Gunter, former Louisiana Tech player Kim Mulkey-Robertson, former Immaculata College coach Cathy Rush and North Carolina State Coach Kay Yow.
Soccer
Rookie Aleksey Korol scored his first Major League Soccer goal with a minute left as the Dallas Burn ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Columbus Crew, 3-2, at Dallas. . . . Josh Wolff scored twice as the Chicago Fire defeated the Miami Fusion, 2-1, at Chicago.