SPORTS DIGEST || West Branch lineman commits to YSU

West Branch lineman commits to YSU

West Branch lineman Jacob Zinni has given a verbal commitment to Youngstown State University football coach Eric Wolford, his second local recruit in as many weeks.

The 6-foot 3, 294 pound lineman is expected to play on both sides of the ball this season.

Local junior golfers struggle in Optimist

Palm Beach, Fla.

It was a difficult first day for two local golfers in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Boardman’s Ken Keller shot an opening round 83 in the boys 14-15 year-old division, while Hubbard’s Sylar Ladig shot 88 to open her tournament. Both golfers have two more rounds to improve their standing.

Struthers’ Nick Braydich is the other local golfer competing in the international tournament. He gets started on Thursday in the boys 16-18 year-old division.

Sterling can’t pay debt without Clippers sale

LOS ANGELES

The chief financial officer of Donald Sterling’s properties says the billionaire may be forced to sell a large portion of his real estate empire to cover $500 million in loans if he persists in refusing to sell the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion.

Darren Schield, who oversees the finances of The Sterling Family Trust, testified Monday that three banks are ready to recall their loans to Sterling because of his decision to dissolve the trust. His move was designed to rescind agreement for the sale of the Clippers, a team he bought for $12 million.

Schield said if Sterling has to dump $500 million worth of apartment buildings he could destabilize the Los Angeles real estate market.

Gophers All-American McNamara dies at 82

MINNEAPOLIS

Bob McNamara, an All-American football player for Minnesota in the 1950s and later a major fundraiser for the university, has died. He was 82.

The university announced McNamara’s death on Monday. The school says McNamara died after a long illness on Sunday night.

McNamara played for the Gophers from 1951-54. He was an All-American halfback and the team MVP in 1954.

Kirilenko ends engagement to Ovie

MOSCOW

Another sports power couple’s engagement is off.

Two months after golfer Rory McIlroy broke off his engagement to Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, Russian tennis player Maria Kirilenko says she has called off her planned wedding to three-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.

The two had been together since 2011 and became engaged in December 2012.

Kirilenko says in comments distributed by the Russian Tennis Federation that there were “a lot of reasons” behind her decision. She says “our relationship is over, but I respect Sasha (Ovechkin) as a person and as an athlete and I respectfully wish him further sporting success.”

Kids Golf Canton Tour to start at Pine Lakes

The U.S. Kids Golf Canton Local Tour will kick off August 24th at Pine Lakes Golf Course in Hubbard.

This fall, U.S. Kids Golf will head to six of the finest courses in Stark County such as Tam O’Shanter, Chippewa, Skyland Pines, and Seven Hills.

Registration for golf outing ends Friday

The 3rd Annual Aubrey Grace Lyden Memorial Golf Scramble for FSMA will be held Saturday, August 2 at Lakeside Golf Course in Lake Milton.

The event has helped the Lyden’s raise nearly $40,000.00 in honor of their daughter Aubrey.

The deadline to register for the golf outing is Friday. For additional information about this event, please contact Sean Lyden at (330) 565-6190 or irishlyden@sbcglobal.net or go to www.fsma.org/AGLouting.

Staff/Wire reports