DAVIS WINS GROZA AWARD: Judd Davis, a walk-on who won his job withFlorida after the season began, today was named the winner of the LouGroza Award as the nation's top place-kicker. Davis, a junior, hasmade 18 of 23 field-goal attempts and 57 of 59 extra points in hiscareer. A panel of 30 voters nationwide chose him over four otherfinalists: Michael Proctor of Alabama, Lawson Vaughn of OklahomaState, Bjorn Merten of UCLA and Joe Allison of Memphis State.Allison won the first Groza award last year. PAGLIARULO TO JAPAN: Infielder Mike Pagliarulo, made a free agent bythe Baltimore Orioles, will play in Japan next year. Pagliarulosigned a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Seibu Lions, therunner-up in this year's Japan Series. "Seibu has acquired the bestforeign player ever," team representative Nobuhito Shimizu was quotedas saying. Starting next season, Japan's 12 pro teams will beallowed to have three foreign players, an increase of one more thanthe previous limit. CHINESE SET RECORDS: Chinese athletes set three meet records insweeping eight gold medals during a rain-drenched day at the AsianTrack and Field Championships in Manila, Philippines. Li Tong, wholives in Los Angeles and attends Washington State, won the 110-metermen's hurdles in meet record time of 13.49 seconds. Bi Zhong ofChina took the gold in the hammer throw with a toss of 231 feet, 5inches. Zhang Yu of China captured the women's 100-meter hurdles inmeet record time of 13.07 seconds, surpassing the mark of 13.20 setby Zhu Yuqing of China in Kuala Lumpur in 1991. DAVIS CUP DRAW: Australian captain Neale Frase selected JasonStoltenberg today to face Germany's Michael Stich in the openingmatch of this weekend's Davis Cup final in Dusseldorf, Germany. InFriday's other match, Australia's Richard Fromberg will opposeMarc-Kevin Goellner. Australia's Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodfordewill face Stich and Patrik Kuehnen in doubles Saturday. Thecompetition concludes Sunday with reverse singles. PADRES TO CLOSE UPPER DECK: The San Diego Padres plan to close theupper deck at Jack Murphy Stadium this season and reduce ticketprices for more than 6,000 seats. Capacity will be reduced bynearly 13,000, from 59,411 to 46,510, by covering the upper-deckseats with tarps decorated with logos of the National League teams.The Padres will pay $150,000 for the tarps. "The trend around thecountry is to create smaller, more intimate ballparks as a way ofmaking baseball more exciting and enjoyable for fans," Don Johnson,vice president of marketing, said. AFRICANS APPEAL FOR AID: Cash-strapped African sportsadministrators appealed for financial aid from the InternationalOlympic Committee today in Harare, Zimbabwe. IOC chief Juan AntonioSamaranch, who opened the meeting of Olympic committees from 48mostly impoverished nations, counseled the administrators not to tryto do too much. Samaranch said, however, that the IOC was ready tolisten to their problems. FALDO, PRICE SHARE LEAD: Nick Faldo of England and Zimbabwe's NickPrice fired 5-under-par 67s to share a four-stroke lead after thefirst round of the Million Dollar Challenge today in Sun City, SouthAfrica. Faldo, appearing untroubled by the tendinitis that forcedhim to take a three-week break from golf, started his round with abirdie and an eagle. Tied for third at 71 were defending championDavid Frost of South Africa, Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty and Corey Pavin.South Africa's Fulton Allen and Bernhard Langer of Germany bothfinished with 72. Americans Mark O'Meara and Payne Stewart had 74and 75 respectively, while U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, Ian Woosnamof Wales and Ernie Els of South Africa brought up the rear with 76s.Frost took a two-stroke penalty for moving the ball just a bit whenhe was lining up a short putt for par on the 10th green.
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