LA QUINTA, Calif. — Denver native Shane Bertsch hopped out of his RV and excelled on a course he hadn’t seen in over 10 years, opening with a 10-under-par 62 on Wednesday at the Hope Classic for a two-stroke, first-round lead over Alex Prugh and Jeff Quinney.
Bertsch was the last player to register for the five-day, four-course tournament, yet he still posted the best round of his PGA Tour career.
“I was just comfortable,” Bertsch said. “I always like these (pro-am) formats, because I help the guys out, and it keeps me maybe not so focused on myself until it’s time to hit, and then I just go and hit.”
Calhoun ailment not career threatening
HARTFORD, Conn. — Jim Calhoun‘s medical condition is not career threatening, according to Connecticut’s athletic director, but there is no timetable for the basketball coach’s return.
Athletic director Jeff Hathaway would not say what is ailing the 67-year-old Hall of Famer, but said it has nothing to do with his previous bouts with cancer and is not related to his heart.
• Dan Fitzgerald, the coach who built Gonzaga into a national basketball power but resigned before the school began its current run of NCAA Tournaments, died Tuesday. He was 67.
Pistons exploring options
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Detroit Pistons owner Karen Davidson said the option of selling the NBA franchise is being explored.
Her late husband and owner, Bill Davidson, died last year.
Karen Davidson told reporters the team could be sold by itself or as part of a package with Palace Sports and Entertainment, which includes The Palace of Auburn Hills, DTE Energy Music Theatre and Meadow Brook Music Festival.
Forbes valued the Pistons at $479 million last month.
FCC closes cable loophole
WASHINGTON — Cable TV companies will no longer be able to use a federal loophole to withhold sports networks and other popular programming that they own from satellite providers and other rivals.
The Federal Communications Commission voted 4-1 to close the so-called “terrestrial loophole” in a 1992 federal cable law.
Cable companies have been using the loophole to keep San Diego Padres games off AT&T Inc.’s U-Verse video service and Philadelphia sports teams off DirecTV Inc. and Echostar Corp.’s Dish Network satellite systems, for instance.
Footnotes.
Outfielder Andre Ethier and closer Jonathan Broxton have finalized two-year contracts with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ethier’s deal is worth $15.25 million and Broxton’s $11 million.
• Louisiana Tech has tapped Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes to replace Derek Dooley — who left for Tennessee — as head football coach.
• Former North Carolina State football coach Chuck Amato will undergo treatment for cancer located on his tonsil.
• Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson has been selected to play in the Senior Bowl this month in Mobile, Ala.
