South Korea’s An Byeong-hun yesterday eagled his penultimatte hole to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Australian Open at a wet and windy Lakes Golf Club.
An, aiming to become the first Asian to lift the Stonehaven Cup, snaked a 25-foot uphill putt into the hole with his third shot at the par-five eighth for a five-under-par 67.
That was enough to give the former US Amateur champion a one-stroke advantage over Australians Matt Jager, who also bagged an eagle, and amateur David Micheluzzi, who was making his debut at his home Open.
Mexican Abraham Ancer made light of his long journey to Sydney after playing on home soil at the Mayakoba Golf Classic last weekend by brushing off a couple of early bogeys with five birdies on the back nine for a 69.
Australians Marcus Fraser, Adam Stephens, Dimitrios Papadatos also shot 69s before the worst of the rain swept over the course, and they were later joined in a share of fourth by compatriots Blake Proverbs and Cameron Percy.
Matt Kuchar, the highest-ranked player in the field, had one of the better rounds among the late starters, mixing two early bogeys with four birdies for a two-under 70.
Fellow American Keegan Bradley shot an even-par 72, while two other PGA Tour regulars, Brandt Snedeker and Brendan Steele, went one-over for their rounds.
That was one better than Cameron Smith, the highest-ranked Australian in the field in the absence of Jason Day, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman.
Cameron Davis endured a nightmare start to his title defense with a quadruple-bogey after dumping two balls into the water at his first hole.
The young Australian followed that with a double-bogey at the second and a bogey at the third, and only partially undid the damage with four birdies, signing for a 76.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
UP IN SMOKE: More than half a dozen riders crashed out of the race, with Marquez’s title chances in doubt after driving off the track with flames flickering from his bike Jorge Martin yesterday won a crash-filled Indonesia MotoGP to extend his championship lead, while closest rival Francesco Bagnaia limited the damage by claiming the final podium place. The win leaves the Pramac Racing rider 21 points ahead of his Italian Ducati rival, who finished third behind Spaniard Pedro Acosta in sweltering conditions at the Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok island. In front of a crowd of 60,000 in motorbike-mad Indonesia, the 26-year-old put his tumble in Saturday’s sprint behind him, canceling out the gains his title rival Bagnaia made after securing victory in that race. “Thank you Indonesia. I am very happy.
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