Gretzky to Play at Sports Arena

Wayne Gretzky will make his first Southern California appearance as a Los Angeles King on Sept. 27 in San Diego when the Kings play the Winnipeg Jets in an NHL exhibition game at 7:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena.

Gretzky, acquired in an Aug. 9 trade with the Edmonton Oilers, already has generated enthusiasm in Los Angeles; the Kings have reported more than 6,000 season ticket requests since the trade.

Sports Arena President Vincent Ciruzzi is hoping the game will spread some interest to San Diego.

“I think we’re ready for major league hockey,” he said. “There are people from San Diego chartering buses to go see the Kings in L.A. We hope to show that San Diego will support a franchise in the NHL.”

Tickets will go on sale today at the Sports Arena box office and all Ticket Master locations. Lower level and loge seats are $21; the first 12 rows of the terrace are $14.50; the remaining rows are $9.50.

YACHTING

The San Diego Yacht Club will defend the America’s Cup in the waters off San Diego on May 1, 1991, if it wins the match for the America’s Cup this September, the yacht club formally announced.

The yacht club said it will accept challenges for the 1991 America’s Cup races from the conclusion of September’s races until Oct. 14, 1988.

GOLF

Phil Mickelson of San Diego shot a 3-over-par 75 but still won his third consecutive American Junior Golf Assn. Tournament of Champions at Roswell, Ga.

Mickelson finished four shots ahead of Patrick Moore of Urbandale, Iowa, with a 72-hole total of 5-under-par 283. Harry Rudolph of La Jolla finished third at 291.

“I didn’t feel right today,” said Mickelson of his first above-par round at the Horseshoe Bend course since his opening round in the event three years ago. “I think I lacked the aggressiveness today that I had when I won last year.”