Sean Knapp of Oakmont, a member at St. Jude Golf Club in Chicora, carded a 3-under-par 68 to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur Sectional Qualifier recently at Deer Run Golf Club.

David Brown of Pittsburgh earned the other qualifier spot with a 1-over-par 72.

The U.S. Amateur will be held Monday through Aug. 28 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

PITTSBURGH - Right wing Konstantin Koltsov has signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins that will pay him $627,000 if he plays in the NHL this season.Koltsov, who played in all 82 Penguins games in 2003-04, would make less money in the minors.The Penguins are hoping Koltsov will be among the players who benefit most from the NHL rule changes designed to create more scoring. Koltsov, 24, had nine goals and 20 assists in his first full NHL season and had 15 goals in 48 games in Belarus and Russia last season, including three goals and three assists in six world championship games with Belarus.Koltsov's salary reflects the $750,000 he would have made if the 2004-05 season had been played, minus the negotiated 24 percent salary rollback and a 10 percent raise for this season.

Carolina Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette was chosen Tuesday as coach of the 2006 U.S. Olympic team that will compete in the Turin Games next February.Laviolette, a two-time Olympian who captained the squad at the 1994 games, is 97-94-25 in two-plus seasons as an NHL head coach with Carolina and the New York Islanders.Laviolette coached the United States to the bronze medal in the 2004 world championships, a finish that earned the Americans a spot in the 2006 Olympics.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Tony Stewart was placed on probation Tuesday for the rest of the year and fined $5,000 for intentionally running into another car after the Busch series race Saturday at Watkins Glen International.Also, Kyle Busch was fined $10,000 and placed on probation until the end of the year by NASCAR for hitting another competitor's car after the Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen International.NASCAR also fined Lance Deiters, crew chief of the No. 83 Chevrolet driven by Wally Dallenbach in the Busch series, $2,500 for an unapproved third-gear transmission ratio.