SPORTS digest || Reed has early lead in Hyundai Tournament

Reed has early lead in Hyundai Tournament

KAPALUA, Hawaii

Patrick Reed had three eagle attempts Thursday and made the last one for an 8-under 65 and a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Reed is the defending champion at Kapalua and has top 10s in his last six tournaments around the world.

Most of the attention was on Spieth, coming off a blockbuster year that included two majors.

Spieth and Reed were part of a five-way tie for the lead on the par-5 18th on the Plantation Course when Reed drilled a 3-wood onto the green and let the grain take it to 15 feet. He made the putt to cap off a 31 on the back nine.

Brandt Snedeker, J.B. Holmes and Danny Lee were at 67.

Van Zyl takes lead at South African Open

GAUTENG, South Africa

Jaco van Zyl shot a 7-under 65 at Glendower to top a South African-dominated leaderboard in the suspended first round of the South African Open.

Shaun Norris was second at 66, and Jbe Kruger and Keith Horne followed at 67. Six-time winner Ernie Els shot a 73. Defending champion Andy Sullivan of England had a 75.

Girard grad named to All-PAC second team

WASHINGTON, PA.

Brandon Martuccio, a junior offensive lineman for the Washington & Jefferson football team, was selected to the All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference second team for the second straight season.

The Girard High School graduated has started 22 consecutive games at right tackle for the Presidents, who finished 8-2 in 2015.

Martuccio helped the Washington & Jefferson offense to the 14th spot nationally among Division III offenses.

UK student pleads guilty in drone case

LEXINGTON, KY.

A University of Kentucky student who operated a drone that crashed inside a stadium before a football game has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in the case.

The Lexington Herald-Leader cites court documents in reporting that 24-year-old law student Peyton Wilson pleaded guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor criminal trespassing and paid a $100 fine.

Wilson originally faced a charge of second-degree wanton endangerment. University police said in September that no one was injured when the drone crashed into suite-level glass on the south side of the stadium prior to Kentucky’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette. The stadium wasn’t damaged.

Pregame festivities included military parachutists, and police said one skydiver reported he had to alter his flight path to avoid the drone.

Ball State hires Neu as football coach

MUNCIE, IND.

Ball State hired former Cardinals quarterback Mike Neu as head coach Thursday.

The 45-year-old Neu spent the last two seasons as the New Orleans Saints’ quarterbacks coach. Neu replaces Pete Lembo, who resigned Dec. 22 after a 3-9 season.

Neu was the 1993 Mid-American Conference offensive player of the year for Ball State, and was inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004. He was with Calgary in the Canadian Football League in 1995, Orlando in the Arena Football League in 1996, and ended his playing career with Nashville in the AFL in 1997.

OSU’s Elliott to visit Eastwood Mall

NILES

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, who helped the Buckeyes win a national championship last season, is scheduled to appear from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Everything Buckeyes store at the Eastwood Mall.

Elliott was the MVP of the title game against Oregon and followed that up by rushing for 1,821 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2015.

Autograph prices are $69 and $79. Inscriptions are $15.

Staff and wire reports