NEW DRIVE: Former three-time SWAC Golf champion and two-time All-American, Tim O'Neal from Jackson State, is in the hunt again to make it onto the PGA Tour. O'Neal, playing in the first stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School at the Pensacola (Fl.) Golf Club last week, shot 66-70-77-69 to finish at six-under par 282, in a tie for eighth place and good enough to advance to the second stage. First stage play was held at 13 locations around the country. The top 21 of the more than 90 golfers in the Pensacola field advanced to the second stage which will be held in six locations later this month. In the third stage, the top qualifiers will compete against PGA Tour pros that did not finish among the exempt top-125 on the Tour's money list this year. Only the low 30 scores and ties will earn playing privileges on the PGA Tour. Everyone who reaches the finals will at least have some status on the Nationwide Tour. O'Neal, a Savannah, Ga., native, made it to the third and final stage in 2000 before a disastrous final hole left him two strokes short of the necessary score. O'Neal would have joined Tiger Woods as the only other African-American on the Tour.

CIAA PILOT: The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced this week that Delta Air Lines has signed on as the presenting sponsor for the 2003 Football Championship Game to be played Nov. 15 in Durham, N. C. The agreement also names Delta Air as the official airline of the Game which will pair winners of the conference's East and West divisions. "We're glad to have a company with the international reputation of Delta Air Lines supporting the CIAA and its member institutions," said CIAA Commissioner Leon G. Kerry. "We are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with Delta at the 2003 Championship Game and beyond." For more information about the Championship Game and to purchase tickets, call the CIAA office at 757-865-0071.

MAJOR DEAL: New Vision Sports Properties has negotiated a ground-breaking, multi-year deal with the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands of Chrysler on behalf of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The first of its kind partnership allows Chrysler Group to leverage its three brands with the 32 schools in the conferences. The far-reaching sponsorship includes advertising in over 80 football and basketball games televised on the Major Broadcasting Network (MBC), as well as in-venue signage, dealer hospitality and inclusion in a wide variety of print, advertising and web-based vehicles. In addition to the media platforms, Chrysler Group will have official automotive status with the conferences and title sponsorship of their football and basketball championships. Chrysler will also have logo rights to all three conferences, and the opportunity to hold seminars at all championship venues, maintain an on-campus presence for student recruitment and to interact with students, alumni and e-commerce communications.

© 2003 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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