SPORTS BRIEFS

GOLF

Atwal shoots 61, ties tournament record

Arjun Atwal, formerly of Clarke High School and Nassau Community College, tied a tournament record with a 61 yesterday and took a two-stroke lead at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C.

Atwal, who lost his tour card last month and had to play his way into this event in a Monday qualifier, matched Carl Pettersson's 2-year-old mark at the par-70 Sedgefield Country Club. Brandt Snedeker, who won this event in 2007, shot a 63. - APNBA

Blazers' Fernandez fined $25K

The NBA fined Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez $25,000 for "statements detrimental to the NBA," according to a statement released by the league Thursday. The league took action after Fernandez's agent, Andy Miller, told multiple media outlets that his client did not want to play for the Blazers this season and would consider sitting out the final year of his contract and playing in Europe.

HORSE RACING

'Devil' vs. 'Luck' at Saratoga

The nation's leading 3-year-old fillies, Devil May Care and Blind Luck, will meet Saturday in the Grade I, 1 1/4-mile Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. Devil May Care is the 7-5 favorite in a field of six, with Blind Luck at 8-5. Devil May Care won the Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks after she ran 10th in the Kentucky Derby. California-based Blind Luck rallied for nose victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Delaware Oaks . . . The New York Racing Association has named a race in honor of longtime Daily News sports columnist Vic Ziegel, who died last month. The Vic Ziegel Memorial will be run next Friday . . . Santa Anita will replace its Pro-Ride synthetic surface with dirt before its winter-spring meeting begins Dec. 26.