JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD — Chris Williams might be ranked No. 6 in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings, and Mark Strickland might be No. 2,515, but at the Washington State Men's Amateur, there is no separating the two.

Williams, who plays for Washington and hails from Moscow, Idaho, and Strickland, who plays for Western Washington and is out of Kamiak High in Mukilteo, each fired their second consecutive 67 Wednesday for 8-under 134s on the 6,991-yard, par-71 Eagles Pride Golf Course. They have opened up five-shot advantages over the rest of the field.

First-day leader Sean McMullen slipped to a 74 and is tied at 3-under 139 with Casey Adams of Olympia.

The 72-hole event continues Thursday and concludes Friday.

Also Wednesday, Williams was named a first-team All-American by Golfweek magazine, and his Husky teammate, Cheng-Tsung Pan, was a third-team selection.

OTHER GOLF

• With a 3-under 69, Corey Prugh, an assistant pro at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, took a one-shot lead in the Oregon Open Invitational at Broken Top in Bend. At 7-under 137, Prugh is a stroke ahead of Darren Black of Rainier, Jeff Coston of Semiahmoo and Scott Erdmann of Oswego Lake going into the final round.

• Mike Hickok of Kirkland fired an even-par 72 on the Rope Rider course at Suncadia to take a three-shot lead in the PNGA Senior Men's Amateur.

BASKETBALL

• Junior Patrick Simon has been granted his release from Washington State and will transfer. Simon appeared in 52 games during his two seasons with the Cougars. A native of Ephrata, he averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

• The International Basketball League has announced that the Bellingham Slam will be the host team for the league's 2012 playoffs July 5, 6 and 8 at Whatcom Pavilion.

From association reports.