Sun, May 08, 2016 page18

• SPORTS BRIEFS

  • Agencies
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  GOLF

  Laporta takes one-shot lead

  Italian rookie Francesco Laporta, who came out of qualifying school in November last year, opened a one-shot lead at the Trophee Hassan II on Friday after a second round of 70. Playing on the tough Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, the 25-year-old went into the second day with a share of the lead at four-under after an opening 68. His efforts on Friday allowed him to edge ahead of Australia’s Jason Scrivener, Spaniard Borja Virto Astudillo and Wang Jeung-hun of South Korea. Astudillo had set the clubhouse target at five-under in the morning, but Laporta soon moved past that with birdies on the 10th and 12th. A bogey on the 13th was followed by a double on the 14th, but he then made three birdies in four holes to turn in 35 and take the lead. Another gain on the second opened up a two-shot lead and he then missed birdie chances in a run of five pars before a missed short par putt on the eighth saw his advantage reduced. For the first time, the men’s and women’s European tours are playing at the same course, with the LPGA’s Lalla Meryem Cup taking place on the neighboring Blue Course. Florentyna Parker led after a second round 71. At six-under par, the 26-year-old Englishwoman was two strokes ahead of compatriot Liz Young and Frenchwoman Isabelle Boineau, with Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord also four-under after 17 holes.

  SOCCER

  Ekeng dies after match

  Dinamo Bucharest and Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng died on Friday after collapsing on the pitch during a match for his club. Ekeng, 26, fell to the ground shortly after coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute during a league match against Viitorul Constanta, his club said in a statement on their Web site. Media reports said he suffered a suspected heart attack and was pronounced dead in hospital two hours later. “Dinamo lost tonight, forever, footballer Patrick Claude Ekeng Ekeng,” the statement said. “On behalf of everyone at Dinamo, sincere condolences to the bereaved family. God rest his soul.”

  HORSE RACING

  Cathryn Sophia wins race

  Cathryn Sophia took charge entering the stretch and rolled to victory on Friday in the 142nd Kentucky Oaks Friday at Churchill Downs. After running third last month in the Ashland at Keeneland, she got a good start along with favorite Rachel’s Valentina and stayed in the mix in the US$1 million showcase for three-year-old fillies. Cathryn Sophia found her opening at the top of the stretch, overtook the fading Lewis Bay and pulled away in the final furlong to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Land Over Sea. Cathryn Sophia claimed her first Grade 1 victory and gave trainer John Servis and Javier Castellano their first victories in the Oaks.

  SAILING

  ‘Weekend sailor’ Carlin dies

  Volvo Ocean Race officials say Ramon Carlin, the “weekend sailor” who overcame long odds to win the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973-1974, has died in Mexico City. He was 92 years old. Carlin was unknown in the sport when he entered the race, which later became the Volvo Ocean Race, after making a fortune manufacturing washing machines and other goods. He assembled a crew of unheralded sailors before upsetting some of the era’s leading names in offshore sailing, such as Britain’s Chay Blyth, by winning with his Swan 65, Sayula II.
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