Brittany Lincicome eagled the 72nd hole on Sunday to win the Kraft Nabisco Championship, capturing the first major title of her career.
A stunning shot on the par-five 18th at Mission Hills set up the eagle for the American, who erased a one-shot deficit to beat playing partners Kristy McPherson and Cristie Kerr.
Lincicome carded a final-round 69 for a nine-under total of 279 and victory in the first women’s major of the year.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“I can’t even describe it. It’s surreal,” Lincicome said. “If I had to make anything further than that, my hands were shaking so bad, I was almost crying.”
Kerr, a former US Women’s Open champion, closed with a 71 and McPherson posted a 72 to finish on 280.
Australian Lindsey Wright closed with a 70 to finish in sole possession of fourth place on 282, while Norway’s Suzann Pettersen (66) and Meaghan Francella (69) tied for fifth.
Defending champion Lorena Ochoa of Mexico finished eight adrift on 287, chipping in for eagle at the last to complete a 69.
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng shot a 69 to finish on 288, while Candie Kung’s final-round 74 left her on 293 for the tournament.
■HOUSTON OPEN
REUTERS, HOUSTON, TEXAS
Britain’s Paul Casey gave himself the perfect warm-up for next week’s US Masters by winning his first PGA Tour title in a playoff at the weather-delayed Houston Open on Sunday.
Casey sealed victory with a bogey five at the first extra hole where big-hitting American J.B. Holmes drove into the water and finished with a double-bogey.
■PORTUGAL OPEN
REUTERS, CASCAIS, PORTUGAL
Britain’s Michael Hoey recorded his maiden European Tour victory on Sunday when he defeated Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in a playoff for the Portugal Open title.
Both players had come through the field to finish on seven-under, Hoey with a 66 and Fernandez-Castano a 67, but the Spaniard’s bogey on the third shootout hole handed Hoey victory.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
RSS