In brief: Casey, Els advance at match play

Defending champion Paul Casey and six-time winner Ernie Els advanced to the second round of the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth in Virginia Water, England, on Thursday.

Top-seeded Casey beat Jerry Kelly 3 and 2. Els easily defeated Colin Montgomerie 6 and 5. U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera had 11 birdies to beat Retief Goosen 6 and 5.

Padraig Harrington, Rory Sabbatini and Justin Rose lost. Anders Hansen beat Harrington 4 and 2, Soren Hansen defeated Sabbatini 4 and 3, and Hunter Mahan downed Rose 6 and 5.

“Paula Creamer and Angela Park shot 5-under-par 67s to share the first-round lead in the Samsung World Championship in Palm Desert, Calif., while Michelle Wie was last in the 20-player field after a 79.

“Bob May shot a 9-under 63 at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas to top the leaderboard in the Frys.com Open. Jason Gore finished with an 8-under 63 on the nearby par-71 TPC The Canyons.

Basketball

Thomas undergoes heart surgery

Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas underwent open heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to repair a leak of the aortic valve, an irregularity discovered during a routine physical before start of training camp.

The Wizards, citing Thomas’ right to privacy, made no statement other than to acknowledge the surgery took place.

Thomas, 29, has played six years for the Wizards and is the team’s longest-tenured player.

Thomas started a career-high 32 games last season, averaging 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds while splitting playing time with Brendan Haywood.

“Tennessee coach Pat Summitt will receive the John R. Wooden Award’s Legends of Coaching award on April 12, becoming the first women’s basketball coach to be honored.

“Three Georgia players, including the Bulldogs’ top two returning scorers, were suspended for violations of the school’s new class attendance policy for student-athletes.

Coach Dennis Felton said that guard Mike Mercer has been suspended for 15 games, forward Takais Brown for nine games and center Albert Jackson for six games.

“First-year Ball State coach Billy Taylor dismissed center Micah Rollin and guard Jarelle Redden from the team for separate violations of team policy.

“The NCAA is making bench decorum a point of emphasis for 2007-08 and warns coaches to expect a whistle without warning for a variety of unsportsmanlike actions such as cursing or venturing onto the court.

Referees who are consistent in enforcing the rules will be rewarded.

Football

13-year-old dies from game injury

In Lincolnton, N.C., a 13-year-old boy who was injured in a football game died later at a hospital, officials said.

Will McLeod, 13, was an eighth-grader at North Lincoln Middle School. He was hurt on a “typical football play,” said district spokeswoman Belinda Branson.

The boy was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center in Lincoln, and then transferred to the medical center’s branch in Charlotte.

“Quarterback Mark Sanchez will make his first career start for No. 10 USC on Saturday against Arizona, replacing the injured John David Booty who has a broken middle finger on his throwing hand.

“At Missoula, former Montana State football player Richard Gatewood, whose arrest on federal drug charges was the final straw in the firing of coach Mike Kramer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

“Texas A&M officials admonished coach Dennis Franchione for his secretive, for-pay newsletter and said the embarrassing episode would be a factor in deciding whether he returns next season.

Baseball

Atlanta Braves GM steps aside

John Schuerholz stepped aside after 17 years as general manager of the Atlanta Braves.

Schuerholz will become team president and turn over the GM duties to his right-hand man Frank Wren.

“The New York Yankees put off their meetings on Joe Torre’s future until next week.

The meetings are likely to start Monday night or Tuesday.

“Cardinals reliever Russ Springer is guaranteed $3.5 million next season under his new deal with St. Louis.

Tennis

Officials examine suspicious matches

Tennis officials are examining a document that lists professional matches considered to be suspicious, including some at Grand Slams, dating back to 2002.

The listed matches were followed by a brief explanation as to why they were considered to be suspicious, with reasons ranging from illness to giving up to leave town to prepare for another tournament.