Gambill Plays His Way Into Aussie Open

ATP Tour player Jan-Michael Gambill of Colbert defeated Jamie Holmes in the final round of the Australian Open qualifying tournament early today to earn a spot in the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Gambill, 20, beat Holmes 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 to earn one of 16 qualifying spots. He is one of five Americans who qualified and will meet unseeded Alex O’Brien of Texas in the first round. O’Brien is ranked 118th in the world and Gambill is ranked 226th.

Earlier this week, Gambill defeated Attilas Savolt of Hungary 6-3, 6-2 and Jean-Francois Bachelot of France 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Today’s win placed him in his second Grand Slam event in the past six months.

In August, the 1995 Mead High graduate earned a wild-card spot in the U.S. Open, losing to Scott Draper in the first round.

The Australian Open begins Monday.

Seahawks add seats

The Seattle Seahawks have expanded by 3,000 the number of seats available at $10 per ticket for the 1998 season.

The team offered 7,000 $10 seats in 1997. The additional 3,000 seats can be purchased by calling 1-888-NFLHAWK. Season ticket packages, which include two pre-season games, are available for $100.

Seattle’s regular-season home schedule for ‘98 is Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Arizona and Washington.

Stars switch sites

The Spokane Stars girls basketball camp, which runs Sundays during January and February, will be held at West Valley High School this week only because of a conflict at the regular site, Centennial Middle School.

Braves skate to tie

Spokane squandered a 4-2 first-period lead and the Braves had to settle for a 5-5 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League tie against the Beaver Valley Nighthawks Friday night at Eagles Ice-A-Rena.

Tyler Keller scored two goals and Patrick Heinz had a goal and three assists for Spokane (13-22-1). Chad Rideout had a hat trick for Beaver Valley.

, DataTimes