Sports briefs for June 8, 2005

Wednesday, June 8, 2005 | 10:40 a.m.

Instead of quitting, qualifier shoots 5

Olin Browne shot a 59 to qualify for the U.S. Open on Tuesday after almost withdrawing after shooting 2-over-par 73 in Monday's first round.

His score wasn't a course record.

Browne, a PGA tour player, was one of 22 golfers to earn spots out at Rockville, Md. He finished a day late because of bad weather.

After the first round, Browne asked a rules official how to withdraw. He decided to play another nine holes and was at 4-under-par.

"I didn't feel good walking off (after 18 holes), so I said I'd play nine holes to see how it went," Browne told the USGA Web site.

He kept playing and shot 29 over his final nine holes, closing with birdie-eagle-eagle for a 59, one off the course record set by Shigeki Maruyama of Japan during a U.S. Open qualifying round in 2000.

WBC ranks women

The World Boxing Council ranked female boxers for the first time Tuesday, and the World Boxing Association said it will soon do the same.

The WBC sanctioned its first women's bout on May 28 in Tijuana, where super bantamweight Jackie Nava of Mexico became the federation's first women's champion by defeating Colombia's Paola Gonzalez.

Nadal loses fast

In his first match since winning the French Open men's final Sunday, Rafael Nadal was beaten in three sets today by Alexander Waske in the first round of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany.

Armstrong moves up

Lance Armstrong finished third in today's 29.1-mile sprint stage of the Dauphine Libere in France, his best showing of the season as he prepares to defend his Tour de France championship next month.

Skiles re-ups with Bulls

On the same day his agent said contract talks with the Chicago Bulls had stopped, coach Scott Skiles signed a four-year contract extension. -- Sun wire services