Klein Leads Area Qualifiers

Four area golfers placed in the top 20 Tuesday and advanced to the match-play portion of the Women’s U.S. Amateur Championship at The Homestead’s Cascades Course in Hot Springs, Va.

Leading the way was Emilee Klein of Studio City, who finished in a tie for 10th at four-over-par 146. Klein, who attended Notre Dame High, is the defending NCAA individual champion.

The field of 146 was trimmed to the low 64, with the first round of match play set to begin today.

Linda Chen Olson of Granada Hills tied for 14th at 147, while fellow Porter Valley Country Club member Andrea Gaston of Canoga Park was one shot back at 148. Heidi Voorhees of Valley Village finished at 149.

Failing to make the cut at 157 were Clarissa Childs of Glendale (161), Elise Kimm of Valley Village (165) and Jody Duclos of Moorpark (168).

Three players tied for medalist honors at 143.

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Three golfers with ties to the region advanced to the U.S. Amateur Championship in qualifying events at five sites across Southern California.

David Saylor of West Hills fired a 36-hole total of three-under-par 141 to win the qualifier at Wood Ranch Golf Club in Simi Valley. Also earning one of five berths in a field of 83 players at Wood Ranch was Charlie Wi of North Hills, who shot 144. Saylor and Wi are Wood Ranch members.

James Camaione of Upland, a member of the Crystalaire Country Club in the Antelope Valley, shot 145 to advance at Red Hill Country Club in Rancho Cucamonga.

The U.S. Amateur is Aug. 22-28 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Tennis

Top-seeded Meilen Tu of Northridge and fourth-seeded Ania Bleszynski of Thousand Oaks advanced to the round of 16 at the United States Tennis Assn. Girls’ 18 National Championships in San Jose.

Tu defeated Justyna Gudzowska of Houston, 6-0, 6-3, and will face Adrien Alder of Ogden, Utah, today. Bleszynski defeated Karen Shostakovsky of Atlanta, 6-3, 6-3, and will face Stephanie Nickitas of Tampa, Fla., today.

In other USTA events:

Derek Pope (Ojai) won two matches to reach the round of 16 in the boys’ 18 tournament in Kalamazoo, Mich. Pope defeated Eddie Coates of Cleveland, Tenn., 6-3, 6-1, and Kelly Gullett of Whittier, 6-4, 6-3.

Top-seeded Erin Boisclair of Agoura Hills defeated Katrina Mitchell of Bakersfield, 6-7 (8-6), 6-1, 6-1, to advance to the round of 16 at the girls’ 16 tournament in San Diego.

Twins Bob and Mike Bryan of Camarillo reached the round of 16 at the boys’ 16 tournament in Kalamazoo, Mich. Third-seeded Bob Bryan defeated Scott Watters of Richmond, Va., 6-3, 6-1. Fourth-seeded Mike Bryan beat Devang Desal of Greensboro, N.C., 6-2, 6-0.

Eighth-seeded John Bennett of West Hills advanced to the third round of the USTA Men’s 60 National Hard Court Championships at the Tennis Club of Santa Barbara. Bennett defeated Eldon Rowe of Woodside, Calif., 6-4, 6-3. Bay Vo of Reseda defeated Bill Roberti of Santa Monica, 6-0, 6-1.

Track

Carlene Jones, who finished third in the long jump for San Diego Morse High in the State track and field championships in June, and Mike Wenz, who placed fifth in the 800 meters for Canyon, have signed letters of intent with Cal State Northridge.

Also signing were decathlete Aaron Masters of Hemet High and distance runner Dave Hensley of Antelope Valley College.