Golf briefs for July 22, 2005

Friday, July 22, 2005 | 9:45 a.m.

Roberts leads in tour debut

At Aberdeen, Scotland, Loren Roberts made his Champions Tour debut Thursday with a 1-over 72 at Royal Aberdeen to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Senior British Open.

Roberts, who turned 50 on June 24, overcame some uncharacteristic three-putts and the strong North Sea wind that blew across the course and kept anyone from breaking par.

"I made some three-putts today, which I don't normally do," said Roberts, one of the best putters in golf. "But all in all, I made some good putts today."

He made six birdies to offset five bogeys and a double bogey at the par-4 ninth for a one-shot lead over Craig Stadler, Des Smyth and four others.

Roberts stole the show from Greg Norman, another 50-year-old in his senior debut, struggled in the wind and shot 76.

Park moves on, faces Woods' niece

Bishop Gorman's In-Bee Park, the 2002 U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur champion and Nevada state medalist, defeated Kimberly Kim, of Hawaii, 3 and 1 in the third round and beat Sydnee Michaels, of Temecula, Calif., 2-up to reach the semifinals Thursday in Eagle, Idaho.

Park was scheduled today to face Joanne Lee, who beat Tiger Woods' niece, Cheyenne Woods, 4 and 3 in the third round.

U.S. Women's Open runner-up Morgan Pressel lost in the third round, the second time in a month the 17-year-old was beaten by an opponent's late chip.

Pressel, who finished second at the Women's Open on June 26 after Birdie Kim chipped in from a greenside bunker, was eliminated when Juliana Murcia Ortiz of Columbia chipped in from 40 feet on the first extra hole.

"This hurts more," Pressel said. "Obviously, she played well enough to win, but I kind of gave it away a little bit on 18."

Tway's son beats Palmer's grandson

At Longmeadow, Mass., Bob Tway's son beat Arnold Palmer's grandson in a second-round match and won his next match 3 and 1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur on Thursday.

Kevin Tway, son of the 1986 PGA champion, defeated medalist Sam Saunders, Palmer's grandson, 4 and 3. In the third round at Longmeadow Country Club, the 16-year-old Tway eliminated Russell Henley of Macon, Ga., 3 and 1.

Defending champion Sihwan Kim of Fullerton, Calif., lost in 19 holes in the third round to Philip Francis of Scottsdale, Ariz.

"That was one of the best matches I have played," the 16-year-old Francis said. "We know each other very well, but it's pretty cool to knock off the defending champion."

Membership denied teenager

The LPGA turned down a 15-year-old girl who wanted a chance to qualify for a spot on the women's tour in 2006.

Carmen Bandea, who lives with her parents in suburban Duluth, asked outgoing LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw to waive the requirement that a golfer must be 18 to become a tour member.

In a letter, Votaw cited the teenager's lack of tournament experience for denying her request to enter qualifying school this fall.

-- Sun wire services