Davis Love III opens with a 62
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C., April 19 (UPI) -- Using a putting tip from his brother, Davis Love III on Thursday recorded his best round at the Worldcom Classic -- an event he has won four times -- with a 9-under-par 62 that gave him a two-shot lead.
Love led after the first round of The Masters last week but finished in a tie for 14th, ignoring help from his brother, former caddie and business partner, Mark.
But he has listened this week, shooting a 63 on Wednesday in the pro-am and a 62 at Harbour Town Golf Links on Thursday.
"He felt like I was hunched over the putter a little bit, a little bit open, rather than stand up straight and arms hanging down."
Thursday, Love rolled in six birdie putts of at least 15 feet. He also chipped in twice during a run of four straight birdies on the front nine and came within a stroke of his career-low round.
Love is ranked 11th in the world but has just one title since winning here in 1998.
Billy Andrade is second after carding a 64. Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen and David Frost of South Africa had 65s while Australian Greg Norman and Angel Cabrera of Argentina each were in with 66s. John Daly played 15 holes before pulling out with a wrist injury. Defending champion Jose Coceres of Argentina shot a 69.
West Virginia hires Richmond coach
MORGANTOWN, W.Va., April 19 (UPI) -- West Virginia hired John Beilein away from Richmond on Thursday, six days after Dan Dakich backed out of his agreement to become men's basketball coach because of possible rules violations surrounding the program.
The 49-year-old Beilein, a product of nearby Wheeling Jesuit College, takes over for Gale Catlett, who retired in February with 565 wins after 24 years at the school.
Catlett's final season included an 8-20 mark -- 1-15 in the Big East Conference. There were rumblings of an NCAA violation regarding the amateur status of a current player.
Dakich was hired on April 4, but stepped down eight days later and returned to Bowling Green, citing the possible violation. West Virginia said it would conduct an internal investigation.
School officials said Thursday they were comfortable in the direction Beilein could take the Mountaineers.
Beilein has 447 wins in 24 years as a college coach, most recently going 100-53 in five years at Richmond. The Spiders were 22-14 last season, reaching the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament. Beilein reached the 100-win mark faster than any coach in Richmond history and leaves with the school's second-best winning percentage.
West Virginia gave him a five-year contract worth $550,000 per season -- $150,000 in base salary and $400,000 in "guaranteed promotional income."
Royster replaces Lopes at Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE, April 19 (UPI) -- Milwaukee Brewers Manager Davey Lopes, whose team is off to a National League-worst 3-12 start, was fired Thursday with Jerry Royster taking over as an interim manager.
Lopes was dismissed after the Brewers were swept at home in a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Lopes was in his third season as Brewers manager, guiding them to a 144-195-1 mark. His .424 winning percentage is eighth of the 12 skippers in franchise history.
A four-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lopes had never been a major league manager before joining the Brewers in November 1999. He had served as San Diego Padres first base coach for five seasons.
Ferrero advances to quarterfinals
MONTE CARLO, Monaco, April 19 (UPI) -- Juan Carlos Ferrero took advantage of an injury by former champion Marcelo Rios and moved into the quarterfinals Thursday at the $2.58 million Tennis Masters Series.
Ferrero, the second seed, did not drop a game against Rios and was leading, 6-0, 2-0, when the Chilean and 1997 champion was forced to retire due to a recurring knee injury. The Spaniard, who advanced to his second quarterfinal of the year, will meet fifth-seeded Tommy Haas in the next round. Haas defeated 10th-seeded Andy Roddick, 6-3, 6-2, in a match that featured a verbal outburst from the 19-year-old American in the opening set.
Fourth seed Tim Henman of Britian also advanced to the next round with a 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 victory over Argentine Juan Ignacio Chelea. A 1997 semifinalist, Henman will meed eighth seed Thomas Johansson of Sweden in the quarters. The reigning Australian Open champion, Johansson rallied for a 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Romanian Andrei Pavel.
Sixth seed Marat Safin of Russia and seventh seed Sebastien Grosjean of France also reaced the round of eight. Safin needed three sets to dispose of upstart David Nalabandian of Argentina, 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2. Safin next will meet Spaniard Carlos Moya, who upended countryman and No. 13 seed Alex Corretja, 6-1, 7-5. Grosjean got by Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6). Spaniard Albert Costa advanced to face Grosjean after posting a 7-5, 6-3 victory over countryman Alberto Martin.
Elbow sidelines Twins pitcher
MINNEAPOLIS, April 19 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Twins Thursday placed righthander Joe Mays on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday, with an inflammed pitching elbow.
Mays last pitched in Sunday's 13-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers. He did not get the win after allowing six runs and eight hits in five-plus innings.
The 26-year-old Mays led the Twins in wins last season, his third in the major leagues when he went 17-13.
The elbow was bothering him since spring training as he has not gone more than five innings or received a decision in any of his three starts. In 11 2/3 innings, Mays has been pounded for 22 hits and a 35.62 ERA.
Chisox sign Canseco to minor league pact
CHICAGO, April 19 (UPI) -- Jose Canseco may have a chance to pursue his dream of 500 home runs after agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox Thursday.
Canseco, a designated hitter and part-time outfielder, had signed a minor league deal with the Montreal Expos but was released after batting .200 (7-for-35) with three home runs and four RBI in 14 games during spring training.
The 37-year-old Canseco, who batted .258 with 16 homers and 49 RBI in 76 games with White Sox last season, will be assigned to Class AAA Charlotte and be activated in time for Tuesday's game against Norfolk.
The American League Rookie of the Year with the Oakland Athletics in 1985, Canseco was the Most Valuable Player in 1986 when he became the first player ever to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in the same season. He also has played with Texas, Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees.
A six-time All-Star, Canseco is 22nd all-time on the home run list with 462. Among active players, only Barry Bonds (575) has more. With the hopes of reaching the Hall of Fame, Canseco has set 500 homers as a goal. Each eligible member of the 500-member club has made it to the Hall. The Cuban-born Canseco is one of just nine players with 400 homers and 200 stolen bases. He has hit more home runs than any other player born outside the United States.
Thomas believed staying at Phoenix
PHOENIX, April 19 (UPI) -- Frank Johnson, who replaced Scott Skiles on Feb. 17, is expected to remain as coach of the Phoenix Suns for at least one more season.
Johnson was in his sixth season as an assistant with the Suns when Skiles admitted that his players were uninspired and steppeddown as coach.
Phoenix went 11-20 after Johnson took over and finished sixth in the Pacific Division with a 36-46 record, missing the playoffsfor the first time since the 1987-88 season.
"Wide Open" NBA playoffs seen
LOS ANGELES, April 19 (UPI) -- With the NBA playoff battle lines drawn and the teams that made it getting ready for the next level of action this weekend, the big question is whether the Los Angeles Lakers can make it three in a row.
At least four other teams in the Western Conference believe this is the year that they can get past Shaquille O'Neal's bulk, Phil Jackson's Zen philosophies and Kobe Bryant's acrobatics to win the NBA Finals.
In the East, there are eight teams in contention, some of which did not know if they'd even be in the postseason until the final buzzer sounded on the regular season Wednesday night.
In Saturday's first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs No. 1 seeded New Jersey hosts No. 8 Indiana and No. 4 Charlotte hosts the sixth-seeded Orlando Magic. In the Western Conference, No. 1 Sacramento hosts No. 8 Utah and No. 2 San Antonio hosts No. 7 Seattle.
Sunday games in the East have No. 7 seeded Toronto at No. 2 Detroit and No. 5 Philadelphia at No. 2 Boston. In the West, third-seeded Los Angele4s Lakers host No. 6 Portland anNo. 4 Dallas hosts No. 5 Minnesota.
Titans give Comella 3-year deal
NASHVILE, Tenn., April 19 (UPI) -- Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George should get some more help next season after the reported signing of fullback Craig Comella, who apparently has agreed to a five-year contract.
Comella has spent all four of his NFL seasons with the New York Giants where he was used almost exclusively as a blocking back. He had just four carries for 15 yards last season and has rushed 16 times for 66 yards in his career.
George was just the second running back in NFL history to run for at least 1,200 yards in each of his first five NFL seasons but was limited to 939 on 315 attempts last season when he was bothered by a hyperextended left knee.
