Gambill Gets First Pro Singles Tennis Victory

Jan-Michael Gambill of Colbert won his first career singles title as a professional last Sunday, defeating Wade McGuire of Tampa, Fla., 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in the final of the $50,000 Safeway Challenger at the Seascape Sports Club in Aptos, Calif.

Gambill upset No. 1 seed Marcos Ondruska of South Africa 6-4, 6-1 in the first round and lost only one set en route to the title.

Gambill moved from No. 314 to a career-high ranking of No. 232 in the ATP Tour rankings.

Gambill turned professional in 1995.

Golf

Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus will be the headliner for the grand opening of the Old Works Course in Anaconda, Mont., Wednesday.

Nicklaus, who designed the $15 million course, will play an 18-hole exhibition alone. Tickets are $2.

Info: Anaconda Chamber of Commerce, (406) 563-2400.

A field of 95 golfers from 14 states and British Columbia will compete Aug. 4-6 at The Creek at Qualchan golf course in the 12th and final stop on this year’s PGA of America Junior Series.

The Junior Series, in only its second season, is a summer tournament program for golfers 13 to 17 years of age. Points are distributed to the top 20 finishers in the 15-17 age groups of each Series event. The two male and female competitors with the most points following the Qualchan tournament earn exemptions and all-expenses-paid trips to the Maxfli PGA Junior Championships Aug. 21-24 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Competition will be held for boys and girls in age groups 13-14 and 15-17.

Hockey

The Spokane Chiefs are selling ticket packages for next year’s Memorial Cup tournament at the Arena.

Packages include every tournament game and the championship game.

The Chiefs have received over 5,550 orders for ticket packages. A limited number of individual game tickets will tentatively go on sale April 1.

The tournament runs May 9 through May 17.

Ticket packages available include: Super Seats for $144; lower level/selected rows of upper level for $126 and upper level for $108.

Ticket information: (509) 535-PUCK.

Horse racing

Gary Henson, longtime race caller at tracks in California and the Northwest, will bring his voice to Playfair Race Course for Spokane’s summer season.

Henson is expected to call 28 race days between the day the track opens, Aug. 16, and Nov. 1, when he’s expected to head for Turf Paradise in Phoenix.

Tom Harris, announcer and marketing director at Playfair’s recent winter meeting, will share the booth with Henson and fill out the season after Henson leaves.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo