LOCAL NOTES : Woods Is Leading Qualifier at U.S. Junior Despite a 75

Tiger Woods of Cypress shot a 4-over-par 75 Wednesday for a two-day total of 1-over 143, but he still earned medalist honors by four strokes in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in Milton, Mass.

Woods, the defending champion, leads a field of 64 qualifiers into match play, which begins today. The champion will be decided Saturday.

Woods is seeking to become the first male to win two U.S. Junior titles. Only four players have reached the finals twice. Participants must be 17 or younger.

“I’m better this year,� Woods said. “There’s no reason I can’t do it. My game is more consistent. I just didn’t focus at all today. I’ll save it for match play.�

Ben Garner of El Toro also advanced with a 12-over 154.

Three county golfers were in the top four after the second round of the American Junior Golf Assn. Betsy Rawls girls’ national championship at Wilmington, Del.

Alicia Allison of Santa Ana increased her lead by shooting a three-under-par 69 for a two-round total of one-under 143. Eunice Choi of Laguna Hills and Kellee Booth of Coto de Caza are tied for third with 151, one shot behind Erika Hayashida of Peru.

The Newport Beach Dukes took the lead in World TeamTennis’ West Division Wednesday without playing a match.

The Vail Eagles, who had shared the lead with the Dukes, were beaten by the Los Angeles Strings, 30-21, at the Forum.

The Dukes (8-3) lead Vail (8-4) by half a match. The Dukes have three regular-season matches left to play, Friday against the Strings at the John Wayne Tennis Club and at Phoenix Saturday and Wichita Sunday.

The Dukes’ final three opponents are a combined 9-25. A division title will give the Dukes a first-round bye in the playoffs, which begin Tuesday.

David Newhan, an All-Southern California infielder for Cypress College last spring, has signed a letter of intent to play at Georgia Tech next fall.

Newhan, from Esperanza High School, leaves Cypress after his freshman season, during which he batted .382 (43 of 152) with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. He scored 44 runs and walked 32 times, both of which led the Orange Empire Conference.

He was drafted by the Tigers last June, but had planned to return to Cypress until he was recruited by Georgia Tech over the summer while playing in a Connie Mack League tournament in Las Vegas.

Jason Johnson, a pitcher and first baseman from Villa Park High School, also signed to attend Georgia Tech. He was a first-team All-Century League pick for the Spartans.

Stefanie Hill, a former Kennedy High and Cypress College softball standout, has signed a letter of intent with Missouri Kansas City.

Hill, a catcher, was an All-Southern Section and All-Orange Empire Conference selection.

David Warady of Huntington Beach picked up 1 hour 49 minutes 25 seconds on leader Tom Rogozinski of Hagerstown, Md., in the 40th stage of the Runner’s World Trans America Footrace.

Warady, second overall and 1:21:57 behind Rogozinski, was third in the stage, completing the 491.8 miles from Hamilton to Brookfield, Mo., in 8:10:37. Rogozinski was eighth in 10:00:2. Emile Laharrague of France won the stage in 7:33:26.

Rob Kish of Port Orange, Fla., and Seana Hogan of San Jose continue to lead their divisions of cycling’s Race Across America.