Kung Shoots Disappointing 79 in U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship

Candie Kung of Fountain Valley, who finished second in last year’s U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, shot a 79, 10 strokes off the pace Tuesday in the first round of the 1998 tournament in Ardmore, Pa.

Jessica Reese of Santa Rosa and Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa Reyes shot 1-under-par 69 to lead the tournament, being played on the par-70 Merion Golf Club.

Nancy Abiecunas, of Littleton, Colo., and Leigh Anne Hardin, of Martinsville, Ind., shot 72s over Merion’s 5,913-yard East Course.

Carla Legaspi of San Clemente shot 81 and is tied for 42nd place, and Fullerton’s Angela Rho is tied for 56th after shooting an 83.

After the second round of stroke play today, the field will be cut to the lowest 64 scorers for match play. The final match is scheduled for Sunday.

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Daniel Jung of Anaheim shot a three-over 73 Tuesday, tying him for fifth place after the first round of the American Junior Golf Assn. tournament at Pala Mesa in Fallbrook. Eric Newnam of Fountain Valley, Alex Oh of Brea and Brian Sinay of Irvine are in a group at 74.

Cullen Brasfield of Reno leads the event after shooting a 70. The 54-hole event is for golfers ages 13-18.

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First-year Newport Harbor girls’ basketball Coach Ryan Bettencourt has resigned.

Bettencourt, 31, a walk-on who was the third Sailor coach in the last four years, led the team to a record of 8-18 overall, 3-7 in the Sea View League. He previously coached at Santa Margarita for two seasons.

“I’ve just had it with coaching. I’m burned out,” Bettencourt said. “Coaching is something I can always come back to, but right now I’m tired of having to run the entire program. It’s too time-consuming.”