Freshman Jose Mendez of the Gophers was tied for second through 10 holes Thursday in the NCAA men's golf regional in Raleigh, N.C., when play was halted because of inclement weather.

Mendez, the co-medalist in the Big Ten meet, was 4-under, with four birdies, in his interrupted round.

The Gophers were in eighth place out of 13 teams — the top five advance to the NCAA meet — at 1-over. Seniors Jon Trasamar and Alex Gaugert are both at 1-over through 10 holes, tied for 40th.

The first round will be completed Friday morning before the second round begins.

A St. Paul celebration

St. Paul City players dominated the state badminton tournament. All the players in the singles and doubles semifinals were from either Central, Harding or Johnson.

Julie Chang of Central won the singles title, beating Pa Nyia Vue of Harding 21-18, 21-14.

The doubles champions were Yee Thao and Pajar Vang of Johnson.

Etc.

• The Gophers men's and women's teams will compete in the three-day Big Ten outdoor track and field championships starting Friday at Purdue. Minnesota was second in the men's competition a year ago. Zach Siegmeier of the Gophers is the defending champion in the pole vault while teammate Wally Ellenson has the best high jump this spring. Penn State is the defending women's team champion and the favorite.

• Gymnast Justin Morinishi and cross-country and track runner Rachel Drake were awarded $7,500 postgraduate scholarships from the Big Ten. Two athletes from every member school receive them.

• Junior defenseman Nick Mattson of North Dakota was named to the Capital One Academic All-District hockey team. Mattson, of Chanhassen, is an entrepreneurship major with a 3.97 grade-point average.

• Scott Blanchard was named the University of St. Thomas men's and women's swimming and diving coach. … The Tommies' baseball game against Buena Vista in an NCAA Division III regional in Moline, Ill., on Thursday was postponed by rain.