Sports briefs: Ex-Bulldog Bhavik Patel among State Golf Amateur leaders

Defending champion Bhavik Patel fired a 64 Monday and is tied for first at the California Amateur Golf Championship at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara.

Ronnald Monaco and Kevin Marsh also matched the former Fresno State golfer at 7 under heading heading into today’s final round of stroke play. The top 32 individuals then advance to stroke play.

Michael Weaver (ex-Clovis West High, rising redshirt junior at Cal), Bryson DeChambeau (ex-Clovis East High, incoming freshman at Southern Methodist) and Christian Rose (ex-Fresno State) are tied for 20th at even 71. Pace Johnson (ex-Clovis West, rising senior at Cal) shot 3-over 74 and is tied for 74th.

• DeChambeau finished first at a recent U.S. Public Links qualifier at San Juan Oaks in Hollister to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in Midway, Utah, on July 9-14.

DeChambeau shot 3-under 73-68–141 to earn one of three spots. Daniel Butcher of Fresno just missed, finishing at 145.

Butcher wins County Am golf title; Sodersten beats coach in playoff

Daniel Butcher birdied the first hole of a playoff to win the Fresno County Amateur at Belmont Country Club.

Butcher (71-76), Sergio Rios (74-73) and Nate Jessup (78-69) were tied Sunday after two rounds at 147, but Jessup left the course early and did not participate in the playoff.

Hannah Sodersten, a Clovis East senior headed to Fresno State, beat Bulldogs assistant coach Holly Bare in a playoff to win the Women’s Championship. Each had shot 79-77–156s.

Other flight winners: Seniors, Byron Johnson, 71-79–150; and President’s, John Swift, 68-74–142. Results, Page B4.

Ex-’Dogs coach resigns at Fullerton

Bob Burton has resigned after nine seasons as the Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball coach.

A Fresno State assistant under Ray Lopes in 2002-03, Burton went 155-122 at Fullerton. Andy Newman, who was Fresno State’s director of basketball operations before he left with Burton for Fullerton nine years ago, was named interim coach.