Cycling
PUEBLA DE SANABRIA, Spain – Jonas Van Genechten of Belgium sprinted to win the Spanish Vuelta’s seventh stage on Friday after Alberto Contador crashed near the finish line.
Contador’s front wheel caught on another bike in a tight pack making a turn, sending the three-time Vuelta winner into the temporary barrier marking the course’s final kilometer. He was quickly back on his bike but had several visible scratches and tears to his jersey as he pedaled across the line.
Colombian Darwin Atapuma held onto the lead of the grand tour for a fourth day.
Van Genechten beat a group of sprinters to claim the 158.5-kilometer (98-mile) ride over three category-three climbs from Maceda to Puebla de Sanabria in 3 hours, 55 minutes, 44 seconds.
Golf
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Patrick Reed had a fast start and hung on against tough Bethpage Black for a 3-under 68 and a two-shot lead in The Barclays.
His spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team is looking better with each round, and so are his prospects for getting his first victory of the year. He sandwiched a birdie around two bogeys at the end to keep his distance over Emiliano Grillo and Rickie Fowler, who each shot 69.
Fowler, who likely needs to finish third to have any chance of making the U.S. team, played bogey-free on Friday and has dropped only one shot over the opening two rounds.
Reed was at 8-under 134.
Jordan Spieth overcame a double bogey to start his round with a 67. He was four shots back.
NFL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A person familiar with Eric Berry’s plans told The Associated Press that the All-Pro safety will report to practice Sunday, giving him one preseason game to prepare for the season.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Friday because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.
Berry was given the franchise tag early in the offseason but has not signed the deal, which means he could skip all of training camp without being fined. Once he signs the one-year contract, he will make just over $10.8 million, making him the league’s highest-paid safety.
The Chiefs had hoped to sign Berry to a long-term deal in the offseason, but the two sides were never close to reaching an agreement by the July 15 deadline.
NHL
BROMONT, Quebec – NHL referee Garrett Rank won his third consecutive Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title Friday, closing with an 5-under 67 in windy conditions for a six-stroke victory.
The 28-year-old Rank, from Elmira, Ontario, finished at 19-under 269 at Golf Chateau-Bromont. He earned a spot next year in the Canadian Open.
“It’s always special winning a national championship and to win it three times in a row is a huge honour,” Rank said. “My goal for this week was to come here and win and get back into the Canadian Open and I accomplished that. No matter the score, no matter what happened this week, I’m really pleased with how it went. I’m happy to be a national champion again and get the privilege of playing in the Open.”
Ryan Sevigny matched the course record with 64 to tie for second with Jordan Irwin (73).
Associated Press
