Print

Mail

wiki links

Sports Briefs

■ GOLF

Watson wins in Valencia

Zimbabwe's Denis Watson won the AT&T Champions Classic for his third Champions Tour title in two seasons, beating Loren Roberts with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff on Sunday in Valencia, California. Watson, last year's Senior PGA Championship and Boeing Classic winner, birdied the par-5 18th in regulation for a 7-under 65 and a share of the top spot with Roberts (70) and Brad Bryant (72) at 7-under 209. Bryant was eliminated on the second extra hole. Watson, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, set up his winning putt with a 9-iron form 152 yards to 20 inches on the par-4 10th. "I'd like to watch that shot over and over again," Watson said. "That was so pure. That's as good a shot as I've hit in a long time." Last year, Tom Purtzer beat Roberts on the fourth hole of a playoff.



■ BASEBALL

Francoeur beaned in Jupiter

Jeff Francoeur was beaned in the second inning of the Atlanta Braves' game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida, on Sunday and was down for a few minutes before walking off the field. Francoeur did not lose consciousness, but had lacerations inside his lower lip. Team spokesman Brad Hainge said it was unclear whether he would need stitches. He was hit in the head by Cardinals right-hander Todd Wellemeyer. The outfielder was accompanied by a trainer on his walk to the visitor's clubhouse. Francoeur had the orbital bone around his right eye broken in 2004 when he played for Class A Myrtle Beach. He is batting .314 in 35 spring at-bats with one home run and eight RBIs. Gregor Blanco pinch ran for Francoeur and then replaced him in right field in the bottom of the second.



■ RUGBY UNION

Wallabies tour details

The Wallabies will play five Tests and a match with the Barbarians at Wembley on their European rugby tour in November, the Australian Rugby Union said yesterday. The Wallabies kick off their trip with a Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Hong Kong on Nov. 1, before consecutive weekend internationals against Six-Nations teams Italy, England, France and Wales. The tour will be completed with a match against the Barbarians at London's new Wembley stadium on Dec. 3, the ARU said. The Barbarians' match is at the invitation of the British Olympic Association and commemorates the Olympic gold medal for rugby won by Australia at the 1908 London Olympics at White City. The game also marks the 60th anniversary of the first meeting between the Wallabies and the Barbarians at Cardiff Arms Park in January, 1948.



■ SUMO

Asashoryu enjoys easy win

Grand champion Asashoryu had an easy win over Ama yesterday to retain the lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament and extend his undefeated record. In the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Asashoryu made several powerful thrusts into his opponent's chest, pushing the sekiwake out of the ring to extend his winning streak to a perfect 9-0 in the 15-day tourney. Asashoryu, who sat out two tournaments last year after being suspended for bad behavior, is seeking his 22nd Emperor's Cup. Mongolian Ama, who succumbed to the grand champion's powerful thrusts, fell to 4-5. In another major bout, Mongolian grand champion Hakuho grabbed hold of sekiwake Kotoshogiku and bulldozed him out of the ring. Hakuho is one victory behind Asashoryu in joint second place with two lower ranked wrestlers.
This story has been viewed 386 times.