Coceres Takes His Time, but Edges Mayfair in WorldCom

Jose Coceres hopes his second PGA Tour victory will come a little easier than his first.

Coceres became the first Argentine in 33 years to win on tour, defeating Billy Mayfair in a playoff Monday at the WorldCom Classic at Hilton Head Island, S.C. Coceres missed a short par putt for victory on the 18th, then saved par twice--from a bunker on the 17th and a marsh alongside the closing lighthouse hole.

“It was always my thought that I was going to win this tournament, but not with such a high degree of difficulty,” Coceres said through an interpreter after winning on the fifth playoff hole.

Coceres and Mayfair played two playoff holes Sunday before darkness forced a postponement until Monday.

The Argentine earned $630,000 and a two-year tour exemption. He has 60 days to join the tour.

After Mayfair missed a six-footer for par the second time the pair played No. 18 on Monday, Coceres rolled in his five-footer for par. He punched the air to the cheers of an unusually large crowd on a cool morning.

Miscellany

Goalkeeper Brad Friedel and forwards Brian McBride and Joe-Max Moore will miss the U.S World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on April 25 at Kansas City, Mo. Kasey Keller of Spain’s Rayo Vallecano is expected to start in goal. Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones also will sit out the game because of a red card he received at Honduras.

Arnaud Clement of France and Alex Corretja of Spain lost on the opening day of the Masters Series Monte Carlo at Monaco. Michael Chang also was ousted in the first round of the $2.95-million event, losing, 6-4, 6-3, to Roger Federer of Switzerland. Clement, seeded sixth, lost to countryman and wild-card entrant Jerome Golmard, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-6 (4). Corretja, seeded fifth, lost, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2, to Swedish qualifier Magnus Gustaffson.

Croatia’s Iva Majoli, trying to play her way back into the top 10, defeated 13th-seeded Jelena Dokic, 6-3, 0-6, 6-2, in windy conditions in the Family Circle Cup at Charleston, S.C. Majoli advanced to a second-round match against Alexandra Stevenson, a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 winner over Catalina Castano.

Jon Crispin has been given permission to transfer from Penn State after asking for his release Monday. Crispin, a guard who has two years of eligibility left, has not said where he intends to finish his college career.

Johnny Jones, an assistant coach at Alabama, was introduced as basketball coach at North Texas, replacing Vic Trilli, who was fired last month.

The WNBA’s New York Liberty signed Coach Richie Adubato to a multiyear contract extension.

The prosecution prepared to move forward in a misdemeanor drunken driving case in San Diego against Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Akili Smith. Jury selection was expected to begin late Monday and opening arguments were to be presented today at the latest, Deputy City Attorney Karen Li said.

The Tennessee Titans signed defensive tackle Josh Evans to a one-year contract, three days after he finished a yearlong suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. . . . Receiver Jimmy Smith will miss the Jacksonville Jaguars’ mini-camp next week to recover from abdominal surgery.

Mississippi State All-American cornerback Fred Smoot was arrested in March for marijuana possession, but the charges were dropped last week, court officials said.

Florida State officials said they have received the final autopsy report on football player Devaughn Darling, who died after a February workout. Because the school is still investigating, it does not have to release autopsy results.

Troy Aikman will join longtime Dallas Cowboy teammate Daryl Johnston as analysts on NFL telecasts for Fox this season. They’ll work alongside play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton.

Four Indianapolis 500 winners--Eddie Cheever, Buddy Lazier, Arie Luyendyk and Al Unser Jr.-- are among 38 drivers who will attempt to qualify for the May 27 race.

Passings

Jack Elway, father of former NFL quarterback John Elway and an innovative college coach in the 1970s and ‘80s, died of an apparent heart attack at his home in Palm Springs on Sunday. He was 69. See story, B7.