Auto Racing
Hamlin wins odd Speedweeks opener at Daytona Beach
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Denny Hamlin won a race of attrition Saturday night, beating just seven other cars to the finish of the Sprint Unlimited exhibition.
Only eight cars were running at the end of the 75-lap showcase at Daytona International Speedway on a bizarre night that saw Ricky Stenhouse Jr. end girlfriend Danica Patrick’s race and the Chevrolet pace car catch fire.
It set up a final 20-lap sprint to the finish with the second fewest number of drivers taking the checkered flag in event history.
Hamlin charged to the front right before he took the white flag by diving to the inside and sailing past the few cars on the track. He then drove away in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota for his second career win in the Speedweeks opener.
College Football
Ducre’s interception leads to an All-Star Bowl MVP and W
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Washington cornerback Greg Ducre had a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown, and Furman’s Ray Early made two field goals to lead the National team to a 12-6 victory over the American squad in the second College All-Star Bowl on Friday night at Furman University.
Ducre was named the all-star game’s MVP.
Golf
McGirt leads in L.A. after 3; Choi sets record Down Under
LOS ANGELES – William McGirt made eight birdies in 13 holes and wound up with a 6-under 65 on Saturday in the Northern Trust Open for a two-shot lead going into the final round.
EAST LONDON, South Africa – Emiliano Grillo surged into a two-shot lead at the Africa Open with a 9-under 62 on Saturday, putting the Argentine in position for a first European Tour title.
MELBOURNE, Australia – South Korea’s Chella Choi set a new course record with a 10-under 62 and took a share of the lead after the third round of the Women’s Australian Open on Saturday.
NAPLES, Fla. – Kirk Triplett shot a 5-under 67 in windy conditions Saturday for a share of the second-round lead with defending champion Bernard Langer in the ACE Group Classic.
Tennis
Cilic will play for his 2nd title on tour in as many weeks
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – Marin Cilic will play for his second ATP title in two weeks after reaching the ABN Amro final against Tomas Berdych on Saturday.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Top-seeded David Ferrer and No. 2 Fabio Fognini of Italy will contest the final of the Copa Claro in the Argentine capital.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Kei Nishikori of Japan will defend his title at the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia on Sunday in the men’s championship.
DOHA, Qatar – Seventh-seeded Simona Halep of Romania will chase her seventh career title when she plays sixth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany, pursuing her fifth trophy, in the Qatar Open final Sunday.
WNBA
Owners and players agree on a new CBA for the WNBA
The WNBA is assured of labor peace for the next few years.
The league and its players’ union reached a labor agreement Saturday on a six-year deal. It replaces the agreement that expired Sept. 30, a few weeks before the Minnesota Lynx won their second WNBA title in three seasons.
The maximum team roster size will increase by one to 12 under the deal, which must be drafted into a formal collective bargaining agreement in the next few weeks.
Among the changes:
Owners will be able to increase fines and penalties associated with overseas play when players can’t fulfill WNBA obligations.
There will be smaller annual increases in the salary cap than called for in the previous deal.
There will be improved revenue sharing program for the players.
Associated Press
