Golf briefs for August 26, 2005

Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 | 9:11 a.m.

Three Canadians advance to quarters

At Ardmore, Pa., Kent State senior Ryan Yip and fellow Canadians Mark Leon and J.C. Deacon each won two matches Thursday at historic Merion Golf Club to advance to the quarterfinals.

Yip beat Brett Stegmaier 2-up in the second round and edged U.S. Walker Cup player Brian Harman 1-up in the third round on Merion's East Course. Yip, carrying his own bag in the tournament, beat Harman with a 5-foot bogey putt on No. 18.

"I have a lot of fuel left," Yip said. "In college we work out a lot. I feel like I'm in great shape. I don't think it will be a disadvantage at all."

Yip will face Northwestern senior Dillon Dougherty in the quarterfinals.

"I'm just taking it one step at a time and one match at a time," Yip said. "Hopefully that will happen, but I'm not looking that far ahead. I'm looking at my match tomorrow, how I can prepare and be ready for that match tomorrow."

Dougherty beat longtime Britain and Ireland Walker Cup player Gary Wolstenholme 4 and 2 in the second round and defeated Dane Burkhart 2 and 1 in the third round. Burkhart beat qualifying medallist James Lepp of Canada 2 and 1 in the second round.

Three shoot 65s to start BMW Open

At Nord-Eichenried, Germany, Argentina's Angel Cabrera, Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen and Australia's Brett Rumford all shot 7-under 65s Thursday to share the first-round lead at the BMW International Open.

The 13th-ranked Argentine is aiming for a top-10 ranking after a strong year.

"I played very well today -- I made every putt," Cabrera said after the first round of the $2.5 million event. "My ambition is to finish the year in the top 10. To do that, I will have to win another tournament this year, maybe here."

Thomas Bjorn and Ian Poulter were among a nine-man group at 66, while fellow Ryder Cup player Luke Donald was in a group of 12 at 67.

-- Sun wire services