La Quinta, Calif. — Former Kansas University golfer Gary Woodland is set to play the biggest 18 holes of his life today in the PGA Tour qualifying tournament.

Woodland enters the final day of the grueling six-round test in a seven-way tie for ninth place at 17-under par. The top 25 finishers plus ties earn a PGA Tour card.

Woodland fired a five-under 67 Sunday in the fifth round on the TPC Stadium Course, the more difficult of the two PGA West courses the players alternate rounds on throughout the six days. In doing so on a day the intense pressure appeared to get to much of the field, Woodland moved all the way up from a tie for 33rd after the fourth day.

Woodland, a Topeka native now living in Dallas, plays the Nicklaus Tournament Course today. He has fired rounds of 64 and 71 on that course during the tournament.

Woodland, who last golfed for KU in 2007, became the second Jayhawks golfer to win two Kansas Amateur championships (2005, 2007), following Matt Gogel (1991, 1992). Gogel is among the reporters covering the event for the Golf Channel (Sunflower Broadband Channel 156). The network’s coverage of the final round runs from 2:30 to 6 p.m. today.

Harrison Frazar, winless in 300 PGA starts, is at the top of the field, holding onto a five-stroke lead at 27-under. A day after shooting a 59 on the Nicklaus Course, Frazar shot a 69 Sunday on the TPC Stadium Course.

James Nitties and Derek Fathauer were tied for second after 67s on the TPC Stadium course. John Huston (68) and Glen Day (70) followed at 19 under. Brian Stuard (66), Robert Garrigus (68) and Tyler Aldridge (74) were 18 under.

Golf

Nelsons win Father-Son

Orlando, Fla. — Larry Nelson made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and went on to a 10-under 62 with his son, Drew, to become the first player to win the Del Webb Father-Son Championship two straight years with different sons.

Nelson, a three-time major champion in the World Golf Hall of Fame, won the Father-Son last year with son Josh. He and Drew also won the tournament four years ago.

Wie lands LPGA Tour spot

Daytona Beach, Fla. — Michelle Wie has earned a spot on the LPGA Tour.

The 19-year-old from Hawaii overcame a miserable start Sunday with a safe finish for a 2-over 74 that had her comfortably among the top 20 at the LPGA qualifying tournament.

Wie has been playing mostly on sponsor exemptions for the last seven years, when she became a sensation for her youth and power, and her unsuccessful quest to compete against the men.

Wie tied for seventh and now takes her place as part of the 2009 rookie class, along with Q-school medalist Stacy Lewis, who birdied the last two holes for a 3-under 69 for a three-shot victory at LPGA International in Daytona Beach.

Ogilvy cruises in Australia

Coolum, Australia — Geoff Ogilvy can cross another accomplishment off his list — winning a golf tournament in his home country.

The 2006 U.S. Open champion won the Australian PGA by two strokes Sunday, closing with a 3-under-par 69 at the Hyatt Regency resort course.

Singh triumphs in Tokyo

Tokyo — Five days after his wife delivered their first child stillborn, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh won the Japanese tour’s season-ending Nippon Series Cup on Sunday with a 4-under 66 for a 12-under 268 total. He also won the 2006 tournament.

Stenson outlasts Perry

Sun City, South Africa — Henrik Stenson of Sweden shot a 4-under 68 Sunday, cruising to a nine-shot victory ahead of American Kenny Perry at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Soccer

UNC tops Notre Dame, 2-1

Cary, N.C. — Casey Nogueira scored two second-half goals, including the winner with 2:06 remaining, and North Carolina defeated Notre Dame, 2-1, on Sunday in the championship game of the NCAA Women’s College Cup.

U.S. wins U-20 World Cup

Santiago, Chile — The United States won the women’s under-20 World Cup on Sunday, beating defending champion North Korea 2-1 on first-half goals from Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan.

College football

OU’s Bradford has surgery

Norman, Okla. — Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is expected back at practice within 10 days after having surgery on his left hand.

Bradford hurt his non-throwing hand while stiff-arming Oklahoma State linebacker Orie Lemon in the Sooners’ regular-season finale.

After a 90-minute operation Sunday, Bradford was discharged from the hospital and attended a team function in the evening.

Holtz doesn’t rule out ‘Cuse

Charlotte, N.C. — East Carolina coach Skip Holtz hopes to meet with Syracuse’s athletic director, but said he is not close to accepting the Orange’s head coaching job.

Holtz said Sunday he has had no formal meetings with Syracuse and called an NFL Network report that he was to be introduced as the new coach today “inaccurate.” Holtz, however, didn’t rule out replacing the fired Greg Robinson.

“I would like to have the opportunity to talk to (Syracuse AD) Daryl Gross,” Holtz said. “But at this point, no, I’m not going through an interview process. I’ve made that very clear.”

MLB

Mariners hire hitting coach

Seattle — New Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu has finished his coaching staff for the 2009 season, hiring Alan Cockrell as hitting coach.

Cockrell spent the last two seasons as hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies.

NFL

Marino Sr. dies at 71

Miami — Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino’s father has died.

Dan Marino Sr. died Sunday in Weston, said Linda Elachko of the John N. Elachko Funeral Home in Pittsburgh. She didn’t immediately know the cause of his death.

Dan Marino Sr. was 71.

“My dad was the most loving father, grandfather and husband,” Dan Marino said. “He was also a friend to everyone and best coach anyone could ever have.”

“A visible member of the Dolphins family, he was one of the team’s biggest fans ever since we drafted Dan in 1983,” Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said.

Gore sprains ankle

San Francisco — Running back Frank Gore sprained his left ankle early in the third quarter and missed the remainder of the San Francisco 49ers’ 24-14 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

Gore, among the NFL’s leaders in yards rushing and all-purpose yards, was hurt when a pile of tacklers fell on his leg as he stretched to reach the first-down marker on the second play of the second half.

Coach Mike Singletary said it was too early to know the extent of the injury.