LPGA JAPAN
Wakimoto two shots clear
Rank outsider Hana Wakimoto stayed two shots clear at the halfway stage of the LPGA Japan Classic yesterday as Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn moved up to tied second on the leaderboard. Japan’s world number 236 Wakimoto carded a four-under-par 68 for 13-under overall at Seta Golf Course.
The 27-year-old, who equaled the 18-hole tournament scoring record with a 63 on the opening day, had one bogey and five birdies in her second round. Wakimoto is making her tournament debut and has never won on the LPGA Tour. She has had two top-10 finishes this year on the Japanese tour, which she joined in 2018. Jutanugarn, a two-time major winner, was 11-under after two rounds along with American Yealimi Noh. Jutanugarn shot a six-under 66 in a bogey-free round that featured six birdies. South Korea’s Ko Jin-young shot 70, leaving her in tied fifth at nine-under-par. The former world No. 1 and two-time major winner made three birdies, but blotted her copybook with a bogey on the 17th hole. Reigning US Open champion Yuka Saso improved to eight-under-par after carding 67. Saso was tied with Japan’s Ayaka Furue, who won the Evian Championship in July for her first major, and South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran. Australia’s Minjee Lee tumbled down the leaderboard to a share of 52nd after a 75. Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling carded a three-under 71 leaving her in tied 43rd, while Chien Pei-yun shot a two-over 75 leaving her in 76th.
NBA
LeBron endorses Harris
LeBron James, the National Basketball Association’s all-time leading scorer, endorsed US Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for president on Thursday, making him the latest celebrity to back her against Republican candidate and former US president Donald Trump. “What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS,” James said on social media.
HORSE RACING
O’Brien looks to City of Troy
Aidan O’Brien is taking aim once again at the Breeders’ Cup Classic and this time he believes three-year-old City of Troy has the speed and heart to deliver the Irish trainer the elusive championship. O’Brien has saddled 17 horses in the race and despite two runner-up finishes, has never walked away with the top prize in the US$7 million Classic.
FORMULA ONE
Verstappen hits back
F1 leader Max Verstappen hit back at critics of his driving on Thursday, saying he was a triple world champion who knew what he was doing. Red Bull’s Verstappen was twice penalized for forcing his McLaren title rival Lando Norris wide and going off and gaining an advantage when they clashed in last weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix. Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, told a Sky Sports podcast that Verstappen had used his car as a weapon and accused him of “Dick Dastardly stuff” — a reference to the 1960s Wacky Races cartoon villain. Asked at Brazil’s Interlagos circuit about Hill’s remarks, Verstappen said: “I don’t listen to those individuals, I just do my thing… I’m a three-time world champion. I think I know what I’m doing.”
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many promising performances spoiled by late mistakes fresh in their memory bank, sure timed this strong finish well. Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota’s stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday night. “Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored
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