Kyle Orton was selected to be the Chicago Bears starting quarterback by coach Lovie Smith yesterday.

Orton won the competition with Rex Grossman for the starting job.

Orton, the fourth-year player from Purdue, will start Thursday's third preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers and the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

"To come to a decision like that we've taken a lot of things into consideration: Last year, how (Orton) finished the season ... training camp, preseason games," Smith said. "In the end, it comes down to a gut feeling that you have."

GIANTS DOWN BROWNS

Domenik Hixon caught 11- and 24-yard touchdown passes from Eli Manning in the first quarter as the host New York Giants beat the Cleveland Browns, 37-34, last night in an exhibition game.

Hixon also returned a free kick 82 yards for a touchdown.

Cleveland QB Derek Anderson was 4 of 10 for 20 yards under pressure from the Giants defense, and left the game with a possible concussion after being sacked by Osi Umenyiora.

GOLF

CHANS SHOOTS 77

'Iolani freshman Lorens Chan shot 39-38—77 yesterday in the first round of the U.S. Amateur Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. Two are tied for the lead at 67.

The low 64 scores after the second round today will advance to match play, and a 36-hole championship match is scheduled for Sunday.

BASEBALL

MID-PACIFIC OUSTED

Mid-Pacific was eliminated from the American Legion Baseball Western Regional Tournament yesterday after a 7-3 loss to Las Vegas at Surprise, Ariz.

The Hawai'i representative got three hits from Todd Nagamine, and RBIs from Chance Tanigawa, Derek Tan and Bryson Chang.

Mid-Pacific (3-2) needed to beat Las Vegas (5-0) twice yesterday to advance to the World Series at Shelby, N.C.

SOCCER

ARENA JOINS GALAXY

Former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena was hired yesterday as coach and general manager of David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy.

Arena, who will oversee the Galaxy's soccer operations, succeeds Ruud Gullit, who resigned last Monday for personal reasons. President and general manager Alexi Lalas was fired the same day.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

SUGANUMA LOSES

Jared Hamman of California defeated Hilo's Po'ai Suganuma in the main event of the ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series mixed martial arts card Friday at Friant, Calif.

Hamman avenged a loss to Suganuma in April with the TKO victory Friday.

The bout was stopped, 2 minutes, 34 seconds, into the first round when Hamman landed a series of punches to Suganuma's head.

Hamman improved to 10-1; Suganuma, who beat Hamman via first-round TKO in April, dropped to 9-2.