GOLF: Nitties leads Q-school

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- James Nitties shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday at PGA West's Nicklaus Tournament Course to take a one-stroke lead over Robert Garrigus and Harrison Frazar after the second round of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament.

Nitties, the 26-year-old Australian who appeared on the Golf Channel's "Big Break" series, had a 12-under 132 total.

Garrigus and Frazar shot 64s on the TPC Stadium Course. The 108-hole event will end Monday with the top 25 and ties earning cards.

Bryan DeCorso (68), Geoffrey Sisk (65), James Oh (63), Diego Vanegas (64), Troy Kelly (68), Gary Woodland (64) and Tyler Aldridge (66) were 10 under, and former PGA winner Mark Brooks (69) was 9 under along with Jay Williamson (68), Major Manning (70) and Ted Purdy (67).

Wie tied for lead at LPGA qualifying

DAYTONA BEACH -- Changing her tactics off the tee on the more forgiving Champions course at LPGA International, Michelle Wie hit driver on all but two holes and ran off four straight birdies late in her round for a 7-under 65 that put her in a tie for the lead with Shiho Oyama of Japan after the second of five rounds at Q-school.

Oyama shot 70 on the Legends course and joined Wie at 10-under 134. The top 20 players after the 90-hole tournament Sunday earn their LPGA Tour cards for next season.

Sheehan, Wilkinson share lead at Aussie

COOLUM, Australia -- Australian Paul Sheehan birdied the 18th hole early Friday to finish the first round with a 6-under-par 66 for a share of the lead at the storm-delayed Australian PGA championship.

Sheehan and New Zealand's Tim Wilkinson have a one-stroke lead over four players including 2006 U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy.

Stenson leads Nedbank Challenge

SUN CITY, South Africa -- Henrik Stenson tied the course record Thursday at the Gary Player Country Club by shooting a 9-under 63 in the first round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Rory Sabbatini (68) is second after birdies on the first, sixth, 10th and 11th holes.

BASEBALL: Feds drop 4 counts against Barry Bonds

SAN FRANCISCO -- Federal prosecutors dropped four counts of lying to a grand jury against Barry Bonds, leaving him to face trial next year on 10 counts of making false statements plus an additional obstruction of justice charge.

Bonds faces the same potential sentence range -- probation to roughly two years in prison -- if convicted. His trial is scheduled to begin March 2.

Thursday's indictment, the third against the home-run king, came in response to U.S. District Judge Susan Illston's decision last week ordering prosecutors to again rewrite the technically faulty indictment.

Red Sox finalize $3.3M deal with Tazawa

BOSTON -- The Red Sox have landed another Japanese pitcher, completing their contract with right-hander Junichi Tazawa.

The 22-year-old Tazawa spurned professional teams in Japan to pursue a major league career in the United States.

Renteria joins Giants

SAN FRANCISCO -- Edgar Renteria became the second free agent to join the San Francisco Giants in two days, receiving an $18.5 million, two-year contract Thursday to replace 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel.

A five-time NL All-Star, Renteria gets a $2 million signing bonus, $7 million next year and $9 million in 2010. The Giants have a $10.5 million option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout.

Brewers agree to deal with reliever Julio

MILWAUKEE -- Free agent reliever Jorge Julio agreed Thursday to a $950,000, one-year contract with Milwaukee, adding a right-hander with experience as a closer to the Brewers' thin bullpen.

The 29-year-old split last season between Cleveland and Atlanta, going 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA in 27 relief appearances.

Braves get Vazquez from White Sox

ATLANTA -- Javier Vazquez was shipped from the Chicago White Sox to Atlanta on Thursday as the teams completed a six-player deal agreed to earlier in the week. Left-handed reliever Boone Logan also went to the Braves as part of the swap, while the White Sox acquired four prospects: catcher Tyler Flowers, infielders Jonathan Gilmore and Brent Lillibridge and left-handed pitcher Santos Rodriguez.

This report was compiled from Herald-Tribune news services