Briefs: Ex-’Eater Chin wins

UC Irvine alum John Chin won the Reno Open last month to earn an exemption into the PGA Tour’s Barracuda Championship in August.

Chin, a three-time Big West Conference Player of the Year and a 2010 All-American, won the Reno Open with a score of plus--7 in the Modified Stableford scoring format at Washoe Golf Course.

He eagled 18 to draw even with Ben Fox after regulation play and Chin won with a two-putt on the first playoff hole (No. 18).

Chin played in the 2010 Reno-Tahoe Open after completing his senior season at UCI.

“It feels good,” Chin said in a release. “I’ve been working on my game and am a better player than I was when I played the Reno-Tahoe Open in 2010. Last time I felt lucky to play, this time I’m excited to have a chance to actually compete with the players.”

With the victory, Chin earned a spot in the PGA’s Barracuda Championship that will be played at Montrêux Golf & Country Club in Reno Aug. 3-9.

As a senior at UCI, Chin ranked No. 1 in the final 2010 Golfstat Cup with a 70.05 average and he finished first in four tournaments.

Chin was a 2010 Golfweek and PING first-team All-American (a first in UCI’s NCAA Division I history) and he was named to the 2010 All-Nicklaus team.

He was a three-time Big West Conference Player of the Year (2008, 2009 and 2010) and two-time medalist at the Big West Conference Championship, including 2010 when he won the 54-hole tournament by nine shots.

Chin was a member of the 2010 United States Palmer Cup team that defeated Europe, 13-11, in Northern Ireland.

— From staff reports

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UCI’s Duarte lauded

UC Irvine junior shortstop Mikey Duarte was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the nation’s best shortstop.

Duarte, a first-team All-Big West Conference honoree, led conference players with 78 hits and 43 runs scored. He paced the Anteaters with a .345 batting average and his .416 on-base percentage ranked No. 7 in the conference.

He had 17 doubles, 19 runs batted in and committed just six errors to post a .978 fielding percentage.

The Brooks Wallace Award will be presented during the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Night of Champions on June 29 in Lubbock, Texas.

UCI assistant coach Ben Orloff, a former All-American for the Anteaters, won the award in 2009.

— From staff reports

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Lions’ Rojas golden

Vanguard University junior shortstop Jose Rojas has been named to the NAIA Gold Glove Team in baseball.

Rojas also received honorable mention in NAIA All-American voting after leading the Lions to the NAIA World Series.

Rojas has nine errors and a .971 fielding percentage with 206 assists (to rank No. 2 in the nation) and 91 putouts.

He hit .329 with 78 hits, 16 doubles, 12 home runs and 57 runs batted in for the Lions (39-22), who set a school single-season record for wins. He slugged .565 and struck out just 13 times in 237 at-bats, while posting 13 stolen bases in 17 attempts.

One of just two players to start all 61 games for the Lions, Rojas earned All-Golden State Athletic Conference honors.

— Barry Faulkner