Seahawks Start Camp Aug. 1

The Seattle Seahawks have released their practice schedule for training camp at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

The first team practice is set for 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1. Rookies are scheduled to arrive on Thursday, July 29, with veterans arriving on the following day.

Players on the roster with regional ties include Washington State’s Chris Jackson, Michael Black, Jason McEndoo, Jonathan Nance and Gary Holmes, Washington’s Brock Huard, Hillary Butler and Brian Habib, Central Washington’s Jon Kitna and Eastern Washington’s Derek Strey.

Following is Seahawks’ schedule: Two-a-days Aug. 1-7, Aug. 9-12, Aug. 16-17, Aug. 21-25; Scrimmage, Aug. 8; Single practices, Aug. 13, Aug. 18, Aug. 26.

Morning two-a-days practices run from 8:45-10:45. The afternoon sessions are set for 2:45-4:45, with the exception of 2:15-4:15 workouts on Aug. 4, Aug. 6, Aug. 9, Aug. 11, Aug. 16, Aug. 21, Aug. 23.

Golf

Ryan Benzel of Ritzville Golf Course advanced to the second round of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association men’s amateur championship at Seattle.

Benzel defeated Ryan Earl of Olympia’s Capitol City Golf Course 1-up at Inglewood Golf Club.

Other local golfers were eliminated. Sprague Kolp of Bellevue Municipal Golf Course defeated Dan Potter of Hayden Lake Country Club 1-up; Mike Haack of Inglewood defeated Doug Potter of Hayden Lake 1-up; and Todd Tibke of Snohomish Golf Course defeated Brandon Smith of MeadowWood Golf Course 4 and 3.

Play continues this morning and, for winners, this afternoon.

The John Cook Open, a fund-raiser to help local touring pro John Cook raise money for PGA/Nike qualifying school, will be held Friday at Avondale Golf Club.

Cook, a Coeur d’Alene High and Boise State grad, went to qualifying school last year and fell one shot shy of making the second of three stages.

Cook, 26, has posted a couple of top 10 finishes in California mini-tour events. “I’m making a profit, which is pretty good in mini-tour golf,” he said. “Whatever I raise (in Friday’s tourney) will help me out with Q school.”

Qualifying school costs $4,000, Cook said.

Friday’s event is a two-person scramble/Chapman. Cost is $60 per player, including a barbecue dinner. Contact (208) 664-3049 or (208) 772-5963 to register.

Football

Former Idaho Vandal Joel Thomas, running back for the Idaho Stallions, an Indoor Professional Football League team, will be sidelined for about six weeks with a knee injury.

Thomas suffered a torn knee ligament during Saturday’s 56-54 loss to the Rocky Mountain Thunder. Thomas, who led the University of Idaho to a 9-3 record last season, had a brief pro stint with the Mobile (Ala.) Admirals of the Regional Football League before joining the Stallions, who play home games at the Idaho Center in Nampa.