FanFare 8/24/02

Colleges

Texas A&M athletic director Wally Groff resigned to allow new university president Robert Gates to install his own choice. Groff, a 1964 A&M graduate who joined the athletic department two years later, told Gates of his decision in a letter.

Golf

Robert Allenby shot an 8-under 63 in the second round of NEC Invitational. The rail-thin Aussie had an eagle and five birdies on his final seven holes at Sahalee Country Club to set the course record and take a share of the lead with Steve Lowery in the $5 million World Golf Championship event. Tiger Woods' hopes of becoming the first player in 75 years to win the same event four years in a row will require two low scores on the weekend after he shot a 1-under 70.

Danielle Ammaccapane took another step toward ending a four-year winless streak with a 3-under-par 69 that allowed her to maintain a share of the lead after two rounds of the Betsy King Classic.

Adam Scott shot a 7-under 65 in constant rain to open a four-stroke lead halfway through the Scottish PGA Championship.

Morris Hatalsky chipped in on consecutive holes and finished with eight birdies, an eagle and 19 points to take first-round lead at the Uniting Fore Care Classic.

Hockey

The Penguins have offered right wing Alexei Kovalev a contract extension which could keep one of their best players in town for at least five years. Details of the offer were not disclosed.

Motorsports

Jeff Gordon, winless in 31 consecutive races, won the pole for the Sharpie 500, his third pole win this season. Gordon ran a lap around Bristol Motor Speedway at 124.034 mph to earn the top starting spot for tonight's race.

Cristiano da Matta guaranteed himself another front-row start by winning the provisional pole for the inaugural Montreal Molson-Indy.

Tennis

Juan Ignacio Chela beat Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the semifinals of the TD Waterhouse Cup. Chela advanced to today's semifinals against Alex Corretja, who led 5-2 when Paul-Henri Mathieu retired.

Venus Williams beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-3 in the Pilot Pen and will play Lindsay Davenport in the championship for the third time in four years. Davenport defeated Anastasia Myskina 6-2, 6-2.

-- From wire reports