Briefly

Second-year pro Kim sizzles with 11 birdies

Christina Kim made 11 birdies and tied the tournament record of 10-under-par 62 Thursday for a two-shot lead after the opening round of the LPGA State Farm Classic at Springfield, Ill.

Kim, a 20-year-old Californian in her second pro season, birdied four of her first six holes and finished with four consecutive birdies at the Rail Golf Course, matching the record shared by Laura Davies (1991) and Kathryn Marshall (1997).

Rookie Mikaela Parmlid of Sweden shot a career-best, 8-under 64 and was alone in second. Laura Diaz, who was paired with Kim, opened with a 7-under 65.

Jennifer Rosales made her first hole-in-one as a pro, using a 7-iron on the par-3, 152-yard 16th. She was one of 14 players at 4-under 68. Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum, Idaho, opened with a 71.

•At Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a 6-under 65 for the first-round lead at the European Masters, a strong start following his victory last weekend in Germany.

The 40-year-old Spaniard was one stroke ahead of fellow Ryder Cup player Sergio Garcia. Also at 66 were Marc Farry of France, Peter Baker of England and Peter Hedblom of Sweden.

Luke Donald, the third Ryder Cup player in the tournament, was among seven players at 67. Defending champion Ernie Els struggled through his opening nine with two bogeys and no birdies, but he made five birdies in his second nine for a 69.

HOCKEY

Talks gain no ground

Three days of meetings between the National Hockey League and the players’ association failed to bring the sides closer to a new labor agreement that would prevent a lockout from being imposed in less than two weeks.

The sides talked for 20 hours over three days in Montreal. All that appeared to be accomplished was the completion of an assessment of the business and management operations of each of the 30 clubs.

The NHLPA called these discussions that began two weeks earlier in New Jersey a “side step” in the negotiations. The NHL labeled it a “charade” and said the players were stalling to force owners to lock them out once the collective bargaining agreement expires Sept. 15.

“We continue to be somewhat dubious as to where they’re going with it, but they made assurances to us that it was for the purpose of furthering the negotiation,” said Bill Daly, the NHL’s chief legal officer and executive vice president. “While they didn’t commit to making a proposal, I would suggest we expect one since they suggested this discussion was for a purpose.”

But the NHLPA contends owners will listen only to a proposal that includes a salary cap, a solution the players refuse to offer or accept.

The players have been reluctant to offer a new deal it feels has no chance of being received favorably.

LEGAL MATTERS

Tackler faces charges

The former priest from Ireland who sabotaged the men’s Olympic marathon by tackling the race leader was ordered to stand trial in Britain next month on child indecency charges dating to events from more than 10 years ago.

Neil Horan, also known as Cornelius Horan, is charged with two counts of indecency with a child. The alleged offenses are said to have taken place between September 1990 and April 1993. He has denied both charges.

Horan this week received a one-year suspended sentence by a Greek court for ambushing Brazil’s Vanderli de Lima in Sunday’s marathon.

•The woman who accused Charles Barkley of groping her at a Philadelphia nightclub withdrew her police complaint.

“It’s a non-case. It’s over with,” her lawyer, A. Charles Peruto Jr., said, adding “everyone is under agreement that this was just a big misunderstanding.”

The woman had told police the former NBA star inappropriately touched her breast last week in a crowded nightclub. Police were investigating and the woman hired Peruto, but then she had second thoughts about pursuing the matter. Philadelphia police would not comment on the case.

HORSE RACING

Jockey takes tumble

Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey broke his left wrist when he fell off a ladder at his home at Davie, Fla., and will be sidelined about four weeks.

Bailey, a seven-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top rider, was injured while putting up storm windows Wednesday to brace his home for Hurricane Frances.

Last year, the 47-year-old Bailey set a North American record for purse money won with more than $23.3 million. He also won a record 70 stakes races.

MISCELLANY

Indiana signs new A.D.

Army’s Rick Greenspan was hired as Indiana’s athletic director, the Bloomington school’s fourth AD in a little more than three years.

Greenspan, the athletic director at Army since 1999, signed a five-year contract at $275,000 a year, plus deferred compensation of $30,000 for each of the five years. He joins a school whose athletic department faces a $2 million deficit.

•Bobby Hamilton Jr. will replace Ricky Craven in the No. 32 PPI Motorsports car beginning with Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup race at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. It was announced in July that Hamilton, the son of a longtime NASCAR competitor Bobby Hamilton, would take over Craven’s ride in 2005, but team owner Cal Wells III said Thursday that Craven has stepped aside.

•Indy Racing League broadened its all-oval series with the addition of a 2005 race through downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. The IRL previously added races for next season on permanent road courses in Sonoma, Calif., and Watkins Glen, N.Y.