Y.E. Yang, Asia’s first Major winner, won his second OneAsia title of the year after shooting a closing five-under-par 66 for a surprise two-stroke victory in the 53rd Korea Open. Noh Seung-yul started the final day with a five-stroke lead and was 10 clear of Yang, but the 19-year-old struggled to a 79 to share fourth place after a dramatic final day at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
Yang won the 300 million won (US$260,000) prize after finishing with a four-under total of 280, two ahead of 20-year-old Kim Bi-o, who shot 73, and Choi Ho-sung, who carded a 71. Choi Jin-ho (70) tied with Noh at one-under, while 18-year-old amateur Han Chang-won (71) was sixth at even-par.
DUNHILL LINKS
Reuters, ST ANDREWS, Scotland
Briton John Parry’s four-shot overnight lead was cut in half after the Dunhill Links Championship third round on Saturday.
The 23-year-old carded a one-under 71 in cold and overcast conditions at Carnoustie, one of three courses being used this week, to finish on 13-under 203 in the US$5 million pro-am event.
Parry, who won the Vivendi Cup in France two weeks ago, was two strokes in front of Spain’s Alvaro Quiros (68) and German Martin Kaymer (68).
MCGLADREY CLASSIC
Reuters, ATLANTA, Georgia
American Heath Slocum stuck to his formula on Saturday and emerged with the same result, a 66 that gave him a one-stroke lead in the McGladrey Classic at St. Simon’s Island in Georgia heading into yesterday’s last round.
It was the third straight round of four under par by Slocum, whose 12-under-par 198 total was a shot better than compatriots Joe Durant (68) and Troy Merritt (64).
NAVISTAR CLASSIC
AFP, PRATTVILLE, Alabama
US veteran Cristie Kerr fired a five-under par 67 on Saturday to seize a three-stroke lead after the third round of the LPGA Navistar Classic.
Despite a double bogey at the par-4 15th and a closing bogey at 18, Kerr finished 54 holes on 17-under 199, three strokes better than South Korean Na Yeon Choi, who had a 70 Saturday, and Australian Katherine Hull, who shot 67.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was