The Gophers women's golf team flirted with the lead on Thursday throughout the first round of the 24-team NCAA Central Regional in Stillwater, Okla.
Minnesota eventually finished tied for sixth place at 299, four shots behind co-leaders Alabama and California.
Banchalee Theinthong of the Gophers was tied for 11th place after a 1-over 73. Sarinee Thitiratanakorn and Anna Laorr were tied for 17th with 74s. Carmen Laguna also was having a solid round and was 1 over until an 8 on No. 16, a par-4. She shot a 78.
The individual leader was Kent State's Wad Phaewchimplee with a 7-under 65.
Etc.
• The TC 1 Mile race set for Thursday night on Nicollet Mall was canceled because of inclement weather.
• The Gophers baseball team will play Purdue this weekend in its final home series of the season. The first game is 6:35 p.m. Friday at Siebert Field.
• The Gophers softball team will play Purdue at 11 a.m. Friday in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament in Evanston, Ill. The Boilermakers beat Indiana 4-2 Thursday in their first-round game, scoring its first runs on Ashley Burkhardt's two-run homer. Third-seeded Minnesota (38-9, 16-6 conference), which had an opening-round bye, won two of three games on the road from Purdue May 2-4.
• Jim Gagliardi was promoted rooffensive coordinator at St. John's, and Brandon Novak, the school's wrestling coach, will step down to spend more time being co-defensive coordinator. Tony Willaert was named interim wrestling coach.
