The University of Colorado’s Emily Talley recorded her first top-10 finish of the season, as she tied for eighth place individually in the CU Heather Farr Memorial in Erie, Colo., Tuesday. It was her best finish of the season so far.

Talley, a Napa golfer, had rounds of 75, 74 and 74 for a 7-over-par 223 total. The women’s tournament was played in cold and rainy weather.

“I personally like playing in tougher conditions,” Talley, a sophomore, said on the Buffaloes’ athletic Web site. “I’m not always an under-par player and I know how to shoot par in any circumstance. When it’s harder for everyone else, I try and make it work to my advantage.

“It’s nice to finally break the ice and crack the top-10 but I need continue to step it up.”

Talley played 54 holes in very tough conditions without a single penalty stroke or double bogey.

Colorado finished sixth in the 20-team field. Texas Tech won the team title.

“I am very pleased with Emily Talley,” said Colorado coach Anne Kelly. “She’s been very consistent for us and eighth in this field is an ultimate finish.”

Next for Talley and the Buffaloes is the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown on Oct. 26-27 in Boulder City, Nev.

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Pacific Union College goalie Randy Castanza was selected as the California Pacific Conference Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the dates of Sept. 28 through Oct. 5.

The Bellflower, Calif., native had five saves in a 0-0-1 week for the Pioneers. They tied William Jessup University 2-2 in Roseville.

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Heather Jacobson, a junior at Pacific Union College, was selected as the California Pacific Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the dates of Sept. 28 through Oct. 5.

The Clarksville, Md., native had 14 kills and 14 digs in a 1-0 week for the Pioneers. They beat Bethany University 3-2 on Saturday in Angwin. The win for the Pioneers was the first in volleyball competition since Sept. 23, 2006.

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Justin-Siena High School athletic director Mike Fisher will be the guest of the “KVON SportsVine” Saturday.

The hour-long show, hosted by Terry Simpkins, Charles Kennedy and Mark McLeod, airs from 9 to 10 a.m. on KVON-1440 AM.

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Dave Cutaia of Benicia has been named as a referee and will also serve as a crew chief for the United Football League in advance of the UFL’s season. The 28-member officiating crew has worked games in NFL Europe, the Arena Football Leagues and major college and bowl games.

The California Redwoods and Las Vegas Locomotives meet in the UFL’s first game on Thursday. It will be broadcast on VERSUS at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, the Florida Tuskers will host the New York Sentinels at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. This game will be broadcast on HDNet at 4 p.m.

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For the first time this season, a player besides Bernhard Langer and Fred Funk leads the Charles Schwab Cup standings.

Loren Roberts jumped into first place with another top-10 finish, this time at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship. He is 165 points ahead of Funk and 486 in front of Langer. Jay Haas, who won the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship, moved into fourth place. Larry Mize is in fifth.

Designed to recognize the Tour’s leading player, the program rewards both top finishes and week-in/week-out consistency at all 25 official Charles Schwab Cup events. Points are awarded to the top-10 finishers and ties and are based on the money distribution for each tournament.

The winner of the 2009 Charles Schwab Cup will earn a $1 million annuity. The second through fifth-place finishers earn annuities of $500,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000.

The previous winners in the competition are Allen Doyle (2001), Hale Irwin (2002 and 2004), Tom Watson (2003 and 2005), Haas (2006 and 2008) and Roberts (2007).

The Charles Schwab Cup Championship returns to Sonoma Golf Club Oct. 26 through Nov. 1. It’s the season-ending event on the Champions Tour and features an elite 30-player field.

E-mail Executive Sports Editor Marty James at mjames@napanews.com or call 256-2223.