Cougars Move Up Kickoff Times

Washington State University has changed the starting times of home football games next fall to 1 p.m., athletic director Rick Dickson announced Tuesday.

“The change in our regular starting time was made after an extensive survey of season ticket-holders and Cougar Club members showed the 1 p.m. starting time was favored by a 2-1 margin,” Dickson said.

All WSU starting times are subject to changes needed to accommodate live national and regional television requests.

The traditional starting times for ABC-TV is 12:30 p.m. or an occasional 4 p.m. game. Fox Sports Net games usually begin at 3:30 p.m. or 7 p.m.

Dickson said ABC already has selected WSU’s home game with USC for a 4 p.m. telecast. Fox Sports has tentatively scheduled WSU at Stanford for a night telecast.

Golf

Jeff Coston of Semiahmoo GC in Blaine, Wash., shot a 4-under-par 68 to take the lead in the BMW Washington Open golf tournament with a two-day total of 5-under par 139 at Indian Summer Golf and Country Club in Olympia.

Amateurs Roger Thorn of Bellevue GC, the first-day leader, and Keith Coleman of Harbour Pointe GC (Mukilteo, Wash.) were second at 141 with the final round coming up today.

Amateur Kyle Kelly of The Creek at Qualchan shot a 74 and was the leading Spokane-area golfer at 151. Pro Mark Gardner (77) of Qualchan just made the cut at 152 as did David Christenson (72) of Indian Canyon GC. Former Spokane golfers Stu Aden and Chris Mitchell of Tumwater Valley GC were near the lead at 143 and 144, respectively.

Prep golf

Caleb Krebs of St. Maries won a four-way playoff for second in the State A-2 golf tournament Monday at Clear Lakes Golf Course in Buhl.

No report was received from area teams.

Krebs shot a 72, one stroke behind medalist Trevor Mills of Middleton.

Both St. Maries and Lakeland shot 336, missing the cut for Tuesday’s final round. The top four teams plus any teams within 10 strokes of third place advance to the second day.

Filer led after the first round with 308.

Lakeland’s Joe Finley shot 76.

St. Maries’ girls team fired 438 to advance as the fourth-place team. But that was well off the pace set by leader Bishop Kelly (359).

Melissa Epler led St. Maries with a 98. Tamara Thompson of Gooding was medalist with a 74.

Washington softball

Shadle Park posted a 3-1 victory over regular-season champion University in the District 8 playoff final at Franklin Park.

Tuesday’s victory sends the team to Friday’s regional tournament in Richland as the district’s top seed.

Shadle Park finished second to the Titans during regular Greater Spokane League season, losing twice to them by a run.

Friday’s regional openers pit Shadle (19-3) against first-time qualifier Southridge of Kennewick (10-13). University (20-2) plays Wenatchee (13-2) at Columbia Playfield in Richland.

GSL third seed Central Valley (14-9) opens against regular-season champion Richland (19-3), which finished second in district to league runner-up Walla Walla (17-5). The Blue Devils face GSL No. 4 Lewis and Clark (15-8).