RAPID CITY - The 22nd annual SDGA Two-Man Championship opens Saturday at the Golf Club at Red Rock in Rapid City.

Todd Hofland and Breet Steen, both of Brookings, are back to defend their title in the 96-team field. Hofland and Steen defeated Sioux Falls golfers Eric Lindquist and Matt Pridey on the first hole hole of a playoff to capture the 2007 championship at Bakker Crossing GC in Sioux Falls. Lindquist and Prdiey are also entered in the 36-hole championship which concludes Sunday.

Other past champions in the field are 2000 and 2001 winners Chad Dubisar, of Sioux Falls, and Matt Einspahr, of Brookings, and 2003 winners Mike Brummer, of Rapid City, and Pat Lockwood, of Brookings.

The first day format is four-ball stroke play and the second day format is Chapman. In Chapman, each players tees off on par 4 and par 5 holes, then each hits the other's ball for the second shot. From there, the best ball is selected and the play is alternate shot until the hole is completed. On Par 3 holes, each players tees off then the best ball is selected and the play is alternate shot until the hole is completed.

Angels, A's pick up amateur league wins

RAPID CITY - The Angels got a two-run home run from Scott Carlson and a 2-for-3 effort from Kasey Keller in an 8-2 win over the Trojans on Wednesday in Black Hills Amateur League.

Seven of the nine Trojan batters had base hits in the game.

The A's downed the Trojans 11-3 behind the complete game effort of Jason Herz who struck out 16.

Daryl Deneke had two hits and three RBI and Beau Garcia had two hits and drove in two.

YMCA hosting youth golf tournaments

RAPID CITY - The YMCA of Rapid City is holding several youth golf tournaments this summer to benefit the YMCA's chapter of The First Tee.

The first tournament is scheduled for June 25 and will be held at LaCroix Links. All tournaments are for boys and girls, ages 8 to 14. The tournaments will be a stroke-play event with no handicaps. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the winners as well as hole prizes. Lunch is included for those that participate in any of the tournaments.

Other dates for this summer are July 9, July 23 and Aug. 13.

To register, go to LaCroix Links for any of the four tournaments. For more information, call 605-718-9953.

CHL's summer hockey conference underway

PHOENIX - The Central Hockey League's annual summer conference is in full swing. The event runs through Saturday with delegates from all CHL teams present and participating in the week's agenda.

The conference will feature an expansion draft for the Rapid City Rush, who will be playing their inaugural season beginning this fall at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena.

The Rush will be able to select five players from a list of 60 - four players made available from each of the 15 CHL teams returning from last season. The Rush and head coach Joe Ferras have already signed three rookies but the expansion draft will be their first chance to put a veteran face to the organization.

The festivities will conclude with the CHL Awards Banquet honoring the outstanding organizational and front office achievements from the 2007-2008 season

State's hoops stars shine in all-star game

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The inaugural National Indian Basketball Coaches Association North Central All Star Games drew 26 high school athletes from five states, including South Dakota. The events were held at St. Paul Johnson High School in St. Paul, Minnesota on Sunday.

Derick Denny of Seymour, Wis., led five team members in double figures and had a game MVP performance scoring 21 points to lead the Team Gold Boys to a narrow one-point win. Jordan His Law, of Mission, led all scorers with 30 points for Team Black. His Law won the slam dunk contest and David Giago, of Pine Ridge, won the 3-point contest with 16 baskets in a minute.

Marque Lunderman, of Pine Ridge, earned the MVP for the girls game with 18 points leading Team Black to a 67-64 win over Team Gold, which was led by Pine Ridge teammates Keisha Brewer and Nichelle Red Owl with 17 and 16 points respectively. Ellison Last Horse, of Stephen, won the 3-point contest with 14 baskets.

Houk named South Dakota volleyball coach

VERMILLION - Joel Nielsen, director of athletics at the University of South Dakota, has announced that Matt Houk has been named head coach of the Coyote volleyball team. Houk replaces Brian Lamppa who resigned after being named associate head coach at Washington State University.

"I would like to thank the USD administration and hiring committee for this opportunity," said Houk. "I feel this is a great opportunity to be involved in the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I. I am truly excited for the direction that USD is heading. My family and I are excited to make Vermillion our home."

Houk comes to South Dakota with five season of NCAA Division I coaching experience. From 2004 to 2006 he was an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. During his three seasons with the Phoenix, five players were named to the All-Horizon League team and six players earned academic all-league honors.