Atkinson, Austolash lead way in Junior Golf

Atkinson, Austolash lead way in Junior Golf

Boardman

Justin Atkinson and Dean Austolash finished tied for first in the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Golf event at Mill Creek Golf Course. Atkinson and Austolash both shot a 1-over 71 on the South course in the boys 16-19 division.

Madison Aredelean won the girls 16-19 age group with an 8-over 78.

Nolan Haynes recorded the lowest score of the day in the boys 11-15 group. Haynes shot a 2-under 68. For the girls, Jayne Bernard finished with an 84.

In the nine-hold Junior Series, Emily Burling won the girls 12-15 with a 19-over 54. Natalie Barnes won the girls 8-11 with an 8-over 43 while Angelo Rinaldi and Dexter James tied for first in the boys 8-11 with an even 35.

NCAA clears player after rule mistake

The NCAA has cleared Glenville State’s Phil Bledsoe for his senior season after the Division II college basketball player mistakenly used a new rule permitting only Division I players to declare for the NBA draft and sign with an agent while maintaining college eligibility.

NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn tells The Associated Press on Saturday that Bledsoe has been “reinstated immediately with no conditions.”

That came roughly a week after the West Virginia school submitted a reinstatement request, starting a process that first requires a school to declare an athlete ineligible in order to ultimately clear him for competition.

Compliance coordinator Bill Lilly told the AP then that the request noted he had offered incorrect guidance to Bledsoe amid confusion about the rule adopted in August following a federal corruption investigation.

United Airlines buys Coliseum field name

LOS ANGELES

United Airlines and the University of Southern California reached a new naming rights agreement for Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to resolve criticism that putting a corporate name on the stadium disrespects its role as a World War I monument.

The pact announced by the company and the school names the playing field, not the stadium.

Starting in August, it will be known as United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The original agreement would have renamed the stadium United Airlines Memorial Coliseum.

The new agreement runs 10 years. Its terms were not released.

Drew Brees, wife suing jeweler over diamonds

SAN DIEGO

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and wife Brittany are battling a California jeweler over the value of diamonds they claim they purchased for more than $15 million as an investment.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the diamonds were displayed when trial of the couple’s lawsuit against Vihad Moradi and CJ Charles jewelers began Thursday.

The Breeses’ attorney, Rebecca Riley, said in her opening statement that Moradi agreed to obtain the diamonds, sell them to the couple at wholesale prices and be compensated by the original seller.

She also said the diamonds were placed in painted settings to deepen their color.

The couple claims they were defrauded of more than $6 million, paying far more than wholesale and costs.

Sabres re-sign Skinner to $72 million contract

BUFFALO, N.Y.

The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed leading scorer Jeff Skinner to an eight year, $72 million contract in addressing one their most pressing offseason needs.

Skinner becomes the team’s second-highest paid player behind captain Jack Eichel in a deal reached Friday night, and three weeks before the forward was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.

The just-turned 27-year-old led Buffalo with a career-best 40 goals and finished third on the team with 63 points in 82 games.

Staff/wire report