BRIEFS

HAGESTAD STILL ON TOP

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Newport Beach resident Stewart Hagestad fired a one-under-par 71 Friday, leaving him tied for first at eight-under-par 136 through two rounds in the boys’ 16-18 division of the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at PGA National Resort and Spa Friday.

Hagestad, a 17-year-old who has committed to USC, is tied with Emiliano Grillo of Argentina with two rounds remaining.

Grillo shot a two-under 70 Friday.

Jorge Fernandez Valdes of Argentina is in third place after shooting 69 in the second round. His two-day score is 141. Jisso Park of Virginia is in fourth at 143.

The boys are competing on the Champion and Palmer courses at PGA National. The tournament will end Sunday.

You can track Hagestad and the rest of the field at www.optimist.org/golf.

ROSS ADVANCES IN AVP

Newport Harbor High product April Ross and her partner Jen Boss, the No. 1 seed with Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh bound for Beijing, China to compete in the upcoming Olympic Games, advanced Friday to today’s round of 16 at the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals’ Crocs Slam in San Diego.

Ross-Boss, coming off two straight runner-up finishes, won two women’s matches Friday in the single-elimination format.

Former UC Irvine standout Whitney Pavlik and partner Stacy Rouwenhorst, also won twice Friday to advance to today’s action.

In the men’s tournament, Newport Beach resident Jason Ring and his partner, Hans Stolfus from Costa Mesa, won twice to advance to today’s round of 16.

Estancia High product Matt Fuerbringer and Casey Jennings were defeated in the second round Friday and had to settle for a share of ninth place, splitting $2,100.

Also finishing tied for ninth was Newport Harbor graduate Ty Tramblie and his partner, Mike Morrison, as well as Newport Beach resident Ty Loomis and his partner, Brent Doble.

The men’s field is without perennial favorite Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, as well as fellow Olympians Jake Gibb of Costa Mesa and Sean Rosenthal.

— From staff reports