O'NEAL FOILED AGAIN: Former Jackson State standout golfer Tim O'Neal's quest to earn playing privileges on the PGA Tour took another tough swing Monday in the final round of Tour Qualifying School. The 31-year old O'Neal, finishing off the sixth and final round of the gruelling 108-hole tournament in La Quinta, Ca., carded a two-under 70 to finish at six-under par, one shot out of the top 30 spots that earned full exemption to the PGA Tour. O'Neal put together rounds of 68-74-70-74-70-70 in his attempt to join Tiger Woods as the only African-Americans on the Tour. But it was not to be. He finished in a tie for 35th. Followed throughout the six-day tournament by his wife Melody, O'Neal came through with six solid rounds and was at 7-under, the number that got players on to the Tour, through 14 holes Monday. But he bogeyed the 15th, three-putting the par-3 to drop back to -6. He went to the last hole needing a birdie on the 492-yard, par-4 to make it to the Tour but his 15-footer slid just by the hole. "At least I gave myself a chance," said O'Neal. His finish gives him exempt status for next year's Nationwide Tour. This marks the second time in four years the three-time SWAC golf champion has come up just short in his quest to join the best golfers in the world on the best tour in the world. He also made it to the third and final stage of Q School in 2001 and went to the final hole only needing a bogey to make the Tour but carded a triple-bogey.

JEFFRIES NEW GRAMBLING AD: Legendary former South Carolina State and Howard head football coach Willie Jeffries will be the new athletics director at Grambling State University. The surprise announcement that Jeffries would join the storied Grambling program came last week when he was approved for the position by a committee of the board governing the University of Louisiana system. The full board accepted the recommendation at a meeting Thursday in Natchitoches. Contacted Tuesday at his office in Orangeburg, S.C., where he works as director of athletic fundraising for SCSU, Jeffries said he is negotiating with Grambling on the final terms of his contract, and said he looks forward to the challenge of leading the school's athletic program. "I've always thought so highly of Grambling," Jeffries said. "It's a great program with great history and resources. You have to keep young, keep plugging. I see this as more of a challenge." In 29 seasons as a head coach, Jeffries compiled a record of 173-123-6 retiring in 2001 after his second stint at SCSU as the winningest coach in school and Mid Eastern Athletic Conference history. After going 50-13-4 in his first six seasons, Jeffries left to become the first black Division I-A head coach in NCAA history when he took over the Wichita State program. He went 21-32-4 in five seasons leading the Shockers before spending five years at Howard where he won a MEAC title in 1987. He spent his final 13 years back at SCSU before retiring in 2001 and giving way to one of his former players, present coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough. Jeffries won six conference titles and two black college national championships at SCSU. "What really impressed me was (new Grambling President) Horace Judson and his administration," said Jeffries. "I felt like this would be a golden opportunity, since they are coming on board, and there was the chance to do something I really wanted to do in athletics."

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