June 24, 2003

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - Lake Superior State senior Brad Ward fired a 1-under 69, and senior Frank Kucher Jr. carded a 1-over 71 to become two of the four qualifiers for the 2003 Northern Ontario Open.

The Open is a four-day Canadian Tour event which begins Thursday at the Sault, Ont., Golf Club. Ward is from East Lansing, while Kucher is a Sault, Ont., native playing on his home course. He shot a 78 during Friday's club qualifier.

Twenty-two golfers attempted to qualify for the $200,000 event. Jay Jurecic of Caspian and Brian O'Neill of Harbor Springs also shot 71s to qualify.

Following Friday's round, the top 60 players, plus ties, advance to the final 36 holes.