Furyk, Parnevik Set for Challenge in Ojai

U.S. Ryder Cup team member Jim Furyk and Jesper Parnevik, selected to the European Ryder Cup team, have confirmed they will participate in the EMC Golf Skills Challenge on Nov. 3 at Ojai Valley Inn and Spa.

The made-for-television event will match eight PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour players in a one-day skills competition that will test the players’ abilities to hit drives, mid-irons, pitch shots, green-side bunker shots, fairway bunker shots and putts.

Chi Chi Rodriguez, Brad Faxon, Peter Jacobsen and Gary Player have already committed to the $500,000 event. The remaining two players will be announced later.

Waves keep two: The Pepperdine baseball team is batting .500 with this year’s top recruits. Catcher Dane Sardhina and left-handed pitcher Paul Avery, two of four recruits drafted by major league teams in June, spurned bonus offers to turn pro and are attending classes.

Sardhina was a second-round pick of the Kansas City Royals from Honolulu Kamehameha High, and Avery was a third-round pick of the Florida Marlins from Fresno City College.

Two other high draft choices who made commitments to Pepperdine, right-handed pitcher Sean Douglass and infielder Matt Boone, signed pro contracts.

Vitale out: Sophomore defensive end Anthony Vitale of Valley College likely will miss the season because of torn ligaments suffered during practice, Coach Gary Barlow said. Vitale was a standout lineman and wrestler at Alemany High.

Swarm show: A portion of the Simi Valley Swarm’s practice Sunday at Simi Valley High will be televised in Southern California as part of Fox’s NFL post-game show, following the 1 p.m. (PDT) game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Swarm (2-1), a first-year minor league team, play the Utah Catzz in a Pacific Football League inter-division game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Simi Valley High.

Tickets available: Single-game and season ticket packages are available for The Master’s College men’s basketball season.

Information: (805) 259-3540, ext. 222.