■ GOLF
Winner helps quake victims
Amy Yang shot a 5-under 67 on Sunday to win the Ladies German Open by four strokes, the South Korean teenager’s first victory as a professional. Yang, an 18-year-old who had a course-record 63 on Saturday, finished with a 21-under 267 total. After the win, she said she would donate the 39,500 euros (US$61,260) in prize money to victims of the recent earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province. “I was thinking about the China earthquake for some time. And I thought, if I win the tournament, I would give them the winnings to help them build up,” Yang said. “A few days ago they had big rains and a lot of them lost their houses. I saw a lot of news. And every time I would be thinking about it. It’s really sad.” Sweden’s Louise Stahle was second on 17 under, while Gwladys Nocera of France was another stroke back in third. Michelle Wie, meanwhile, showed a return to form with a last-round 67 to finish in sixth place, her best result in almost two years.
■ GOLF
Lee gains from collapse
South Korean Lee Seon-hwa took advantage of a monumental collapse by Sophie Gustafson to win the LPGA Ginn Tribute with a playoff victory over Australian Karrie Webb. Lee hardly seemed positioned for her third career title entering the round in Charleston, South Carolina, trailing overnight leader Gustafson of Sweden by nine shots. Gustafson, who was six shots in front of Webb at the start of play, completely fell apart. The Swede had five bogeys and two double bogeys over her final 15 holes and finished at seven-over-par 79, tying for fourth at 11-under 277. Lee made the most of her chance. She carded a 67 for a 14-under total of 274 and beat Hall of Famer Webb at the first playoff hole to claim the first prize of US$390,000.
■ TENNIS
Officials to probe claim
Japanese officials will launch a probe into comments by Akiko Morigami that a national coach asked her to throw a doubles match at the French Open. Morigami said a national team coach had asked her to deliberately lose the match as a defeat would boost partner Aiko Nakamura’s chances of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics by freeing her up for a tournament this week. “At this stage we are not really clear on who said what, but we will investigate the incident,” Japan Tennis Association (JTA) managing director Koji Watanabe said yesterday. “If it turns out a national coach did say that then it’s a matter for the [JTA’s] technical committee. It would be dangerous to make any decision before we have established the facts.” French Open organizers also plan to investigate Morigami’s comments after a 6-0, 6-1 first round defeat by Taiwan’s Chan Yung-jan and Chuang Chia-jung in Paris on Friday. “It wasn’t Nakamura’s coach who said it,” Morigami told Japanese media. “It was a different coach. I was angry because it’s not something you say to a player before a match.” The Japanese No 2 insisted she and Nakamura had tried their best against the Taiwanese pair despite their capitulation at Roland Garros.
■ MOTOGP
Rossi wins in Italy again
Valentino Rossi won the Italian Grand Prix for the seventh straight time on Sunday and increased his lead in the MotoGP series. It was the third consecutive victory for Rossi, who also won in France and China. Casey Stoner was second, 2.201 seconds behind followed by Dani Pedrosa, 4.867 back. Rossi leads the series with 122 points, while Pedrosa is second with 110.
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