Auto Racing
Takuma Sato wins the pole for IndyCar’s season-opening race
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Takuma Sato has won the pole at St. Petersburg for Sunday’s season-opening IndyCar Series race.
Sato circled the street course in 1 minute, 0.01 seconds in Saturday’s rain-delayed qualifying session to put his A.J. Foyt Racing entry out front. It was a stellar debut for Honda and its new twin turbo engine.
Tony Kanaan qualified second, 0.2951 seconds behind the Japanese driver. Kanaan will be making his debut Sunday for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing.
Ryan Hunter-Reay was third and followed by Will Power, who had won the pole the last four consecutive years.
Cycling
Stef Clement wins penultimate Volta stage, Rodriguez leads
VILANOVA I LA GELTRU, Spain – Dutch cyclist Stef Clement won the sixth and penultimate stage of the Volta a Catalunya on Saturday, while Joaquim Rodriguez protected his overall lead.
Clement, riding for Belkin, pulled away from a small breakaway group to claim the 107-mile ride from El Vendrell to Vilanova i la Geltru.
The peloton with the race leaders arrived almost a minute later.
Dumoulin leads the Criterium after opening time-trial stage
PORTO-VECCHIO, France – Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin won the individual time trial to take the overall lead in the Criterium International cycling race on Saturday.
Dumoulin completed the 4.3-mile time trial around Porto-Vecchio in 9 minutes, 7 seconds. The Giant-Shimano rider was three seconds ahead of Rohan Dennis of Australia and 10 seconds in front of Bob Jungels of Luxembourg, who were also second and third in the standings.
Golf
Bowditch out front in Texas, Phil Mickelson withdraws
SAN ANTONIO – Steven Bowditch opened a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Texas Open, while Phil Mickelson withdrew after 10 holes because of a pulled muscle in his right side.
Bowditch, the 30-year-old Australian seeking his first PGA Tour title, shot a 4-under 68 to reach 12 under at TPC San Antonio. Matt Kuchar and Andrew Loupe were tied for second. Kuchar shot 65, and Loupe had a 70.
Mickelson withdrew after pulling the muscle teeing off on No. 1 – his 10th hole of the round. He hopes to play next week in the Houston Open, the last event before the Masters.
Dori Carter takes Kia Classic lead with course record round
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Dori Carter might have gotten a bit ahead of herself late in the second round of the Kia Classic. She still left everyone else behind Friday.
After birdieing six of the first seven holes on the back nine, Carter bogeyed the final two holes for an 8-under 64. The round was her lowest in competition and broke the Aviara course record.
Winless on the LPGA Tour, the former University of Mississippi player had 11 birdies and three bogeys. At 10-under 134, she had a two-stroke lead over Stacy Lewis and Cristie Kerr.
Lewis shot 66, and Kerr had a 68.
Tennis
Serena Williams beats Li Na for seventh Sony Open title
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Serena Williams won a record seventh Key Biscayne title Saturday when she overcame a slow start and a set point to beat Li Na 7-5, 6-1 at the Sony Open.
The No. 1-ranked Williams surpassed the tournament record of six titles she shared with Andre Agassi. By beating the No. 2-ranked Li, Williams extended her winning streak against top-10 opponents to 15 matches.
The world’s top-ranked players will also meet in the men’s final Sunday, when No. 1 Rafael Nadal tries for his first Key Biscayne title against No. 2 Novak Djokovic, a three-time champion.
Associated Press
