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■GOLF

Third round abandoned

The third round of the Dunhill Links Championship was abandoned without a shot being played on Saturday as gale-force winds swept over the three hosting courses. Play at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns was made impossible, with gusts exceeding 80kph. “The forecast is for the winds to strengthen during the day, so we have had to abandon play. Every course was unplayable,” tournament director David Garland told reporters. The tournament goes into an extra day because the two-man professional-amateur teams have only played two of the three rounds at the three courses. Rory McIlroy, Michael Hoey and Richie Ramsay of Britain lead by a stroke on 11-under. McIlory can go to No. 1 in Europe with a second-place finish today and the 20-year-old Ulsterman supported the call off. “Here at Kingsbarns, the way the wind is blowing you wouldn’t be able to get your ball near the ninth green in three shots — never mind being able to putt on it,” he said.



■RALLYING

Loeb edges into the lead

Sebastien Loeb put himself on course for a fifth straight Catalunya Rally victory after overtaking Citroen teammate Dani Sordo to lead the race after Saturday’s special stages. The Frenchman holds a 1.5 second lead over his Spanish teammate after setting a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 1.3 seconds through 12 stages. “Yup, I’m in the lead, but not by a lot,” said Loeb, who is also going for a sixth straight championship title this season. “This stage was difficult, but the main thing is we got through the day OK and with no punctures. I’m very happy to be in the lead, but there’s a long day still to come tomorrow.” Citroen can clinch the constructors’ crown with a top-two finish. Overall World Rally leader Mikko Hirvonen of Ford was third — 48.5 seconds behind Loeb, who is five points behind the Finn in the overall standings.



■BASEBALL

Padres GM Towers fired

Long-time San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers will not return next season, the National League team said on Saturday. “After a great deal of reflection, we have made a decision to make a change at the GM position to equip our club for the long-term future,” Padres chief executive officer Jeff Moorad told Major League Baseball’s Web site. Towers, 47, had been the team’s general manager for almost 14 years. Towers departure was the second firing at a Major League team on Saturday after the Toronto Blue Jays said general manager J.P. Ricciardi was leaving after eight years.



■RUGBY LEAGUE

Noble to leave Wigan

Wigan coach Brian Noble announced that he would be leaving the club with immediate effect after their Super League play-off semi-final defeat by St Helens. Noble, whose future has been clouded in uncertainty all season, said the decision had been taken a week ago, but kept from the players in the run-up to their 14-10 defeat by St Helens, who will play Leeds in next weekend’s Grand Final. “I’m not going to be at Wigan, which is disappointing,” Noble said. “I’ve not told the players, I kept that away from them, but I’ve known for a week.”



■CYCLING

Boonen wins third stage

Belgian rider Tom Boonen of the Quick Step team won the third stage of the Franco-Belge stage race on Saturday in a sprint finish ahead of England’s Roger Hammond and Tyler Farrar of the US. Garmin rider Farrar holds the overall race lead after winning the first two stages.


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