GOLF

WIE CHASES SORENSTAM IN FIRST PRO TOURNAMENT

Hawaiian teenager Michele Wie bogeyed the 18th hole yesterday to finish with a 2-over 70 in the first round of the Samsung World Championships, her first tournament as a professional. Meanwhile, world no. 1 Annika Sorenstam went about her business with alarming precision on her way to an 8-under 64, a score that could have been even lower except for missing birdie putts inside five feet on the final two holes.

Sorenstam had a one-shot lead over Gloria Park and Cristie Kerr, who played with Wie and welcomed her to the professional ranks with four birdies on her first five holes. Wie wound up in a tie for 12th among the 20-player field, dropping shots on two of the last five holes with a tee shot that caromed off the trees on the 14th, and hitting twice into bunkers on the closing hole.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

VIRGINIA TECH LOCKS UP BEAMER THROUGH 2012 SEASON

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has a new seven-year contract that will boost his annual salary from $1.4 million to $2 million and runs through 2012 season. The deal has an option for three additional years. The agreement also guarantees the 58-year-old Beamer, who is in his 19th season as Tech’s coach, additional bonuses. His assistants also will receive substantial pay increases and performance-based annual raises.

Beamer has built Virginia Tech from a perennial also-ran into a national power. He is 183-100-4 in his career, the third most victories of any active major college coach. In the past 12 seasons, Beamer’s Hokies are 117-37 with 12 consecutive bowl appearances.

HOCKEY

JUDGE DISMISSES CASE AGAINST BERTUZZI

Former Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore’s lawsuit over a vicious hit by Todd Bertuzzi was dismissed yesterday, and the judge advised him to take the case to Canada. Moore’s claims would be better handled in Canada because that’s where the hit happened and all the defendants are based there, Denver District Judge Shelley Gilman said. Her ruling was in agreement with attorneys for Bertuzzi, the Canucks and others.

– Associated Press