YSU

YSU

Women’s golf

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State women's golf team will start its 2007-2008 season by playing host to the seventh YSU Invitational at Salem Hills Golf Course in Salem, Ohio.

Tee-off will be 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. Play will continue on Monday, with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.

Last year, Bowling Green took home first place in the tournament, which was held at Avalon in Warren. First place was awarded to Jessica McCann of BGSU who ended the two-day contest with 147.

Competing teams in this year's tournament will be: Dayton, IPFW, Robert Morris, St. Francis (Pa.), Gannon, Mercyhurst and fellow Horizon League members Cleveland State and Detroit.

This is the second time the event will be held at Salem Hills. The other occurring in April 2005, which was won by Butler.

YSU is entering the season led by three returning seniors: Felicia Ciotola, Adrianna DiLonardo and Brittany Jones. Each are three-year letterwinners.

Jones ended the 2006-07 season, finishing fourth at the Horizon League Championships. She led the team with an 81.7 average, competing in all 10 matches of the season.

DiLonardo finished 15th at the League Tournament and backed up Jones, averaging 84.8 -- second on the team.

Ciotola ended her third year placing 13th at the League meet and third on the team with a 87.2 average.

LOCAL

Hospice benefit

BOARDMAN - A bowling fundraiser for the Hospice House Butterfly Garden will take place Sept. 9 at Camelot Lanes from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for unlimited bowling. Proceeds will benefit the Butterfly Garden, a project of an Eagle scout candidate from Boy Scout Troop #119 (New Springfield). Tickets are available at Hospice House and at Hospice of the Valley's Boardman office.

Correction

POLAND — In a loss to Salem on Tuesday, Wednesday’s paper had Poland’s volleyball team scoring 17-6-12 points. The scores should have read 17-16-12.

REGION

Roethlisberger
helps Cleveland

PITTSBURGH — The Dawg Pound in Cleveland may not be a fan of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but the city’s police dogs will be.

Roethlisberger’s foundation is donating an explosion detection dog, a training course and a canine protection vest to the Cleveland Division of Police’s canine unit.

Roethlisberger, who grew up in Findlay, Ohio, learned that Cleveland’s only explosive detecting canine, Rex, is 11 and nearing retirement age. The department did not have the funds to purchase a new dog.

Roethlisberger often wears a Pennsylvania State Police ballcap in honor of his late friend, state police Cpl. Joseph Pokorny, who was slain while on duty in 2005.

Roethlisberger’s foundation will distribute grants to the police and fire departments in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area and those of each Steelers regular season away opponent. The first such grant was given last year to Findlay’s police department to replace its service dog.

The Steelers open the season Sunday in Cleveland.

NATION

Byrd is leader
at Cog Hill

LEMONT, Ill. — Jonathan Byrd forgot what it was like to play in one of those PGA Tour boondoggles that have no cut and guaranteed money even for last place.

But the BMW Championship is no place for him to relax, even if Cog Hill had the atmosphere of a library Thursday.

Needing a solid week to advance to the FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship, Byrd fired off three straight birdies late in his round for a 7-under 64 and a one-shot lead Thursday at soft, calm and ghostly quiet Cog Hill.

“I’m the bubble boy this week, and I told my wife this is the worst bubble to be on,” Byrd said.

He is at No. 30 in the playoff standings, the cutoff for going to East Lake. He could easily be knocked out if someone behind him finishes in the top 10, so Byrd figured the best solution was to play his best golf.

Staff/wire reports