Auto Racing
Showing his Power: IndyCar crowns a new champion
FONTANA, Calif. – Will Power won his first IndyCar Series championship Saturday night, finishing ninth in the final race and claiming the season title after a career filled with agonizing misses.
Tony Kanaan won the 500-mile, double-points race at Fontana for his first victory of the season, but Power drove an intelligent race with just enough aggression to preserve his healthy points lead.
After briefly taking the lead late, Power comfortably held off second-place teammate Helio Castroneves and wrapped up Team Penske’s first IndyCar title since 2006.
Starting from the back after a poor qualifying run, Power patiently picked his way through the field to the front. After a restart late in the race, the Australian roared into the lead with authority, showing he wasn’t about to back into his first title.
Cycling
Quintana passes Valverde for Vuelta lead after Stage 9
ARAMON VALDELINARES, Spain – Nairo Quintana took the overall lead of the Spanish Vuelta from Movistar teammate Alejandro Valverde on a rainy and mountainous ninth stage won by Winner Anacona of Colombia.
Anacona, riding for Lampre Merida, separated from a large breakaway group before finally shedding Bob Jungels and then Javier Moreno on the final ascent of the 115-mile ride finishing at the category-one Aramon Valdelinares summit.
Monday is a rest day.
Golf
Birdie streak propels Henley into lead at Deutsche Bank
NORTON, Mass. – Russell Henley made five birdies in a seven-hole stretch Sunday on his way to a 6-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead in the Deutsche Bank Championship going into a Labor Day finish loaded with possibilities.
Coming off a week that was pedestrian by his standards, Rory McIlroy got right back into the mix at the TPC Boston with his power and great iron play for a 64, leaving him just two shots behind on a crowded leaderboard.
Henley is at 12-under 201. He will play in the final group with Billy Horschel, who birdied his last three holes for a 67.
TURIN, Italy – Hennie Otto of South Africa held on to claim a second Italian Open victory by two shots, while Stephen Gallacher came up just short of an automatic Ryder Cup spot after finishing third.
Otto, who won the event in 2008, shot a 4-under 68 to finish with a 20-under total of 268 and hold off David Howell, who surged up the leaderboard with a 63 to finish second.
PORTLAND, Ore. – Austin Ernst won the LPGA Tour’s Portland Classic with a par on the first hole of a playoff against South Korea’s I.K. Kim.
It was the first professional victory for the 22-year-old Ernst, who shot a 5-under 67 in the final round to get to 14 under at Columbia Edgewater. Kim, the first- and second-round leader, carded a 68.
CALGARY, Alberta – Fred Couples won the Champions Tour’s Shaw Charity Classic, chipping in for eagle for a course-record 9-under 61 and beating Billy Andrade with a tap-in birdie on the first hole of a playoff.
The 54-year-old Couples also eagled the par-5 11th and had five birdies in his yet another bogey-free round at Canyon Meadows.
Soccer
FC Kansas City rains on Seattle’s NWSL title hopes
TUKWILA, Wash. – Amy Rodriguez scored twice, as FC Kansas City won the National Women’s Soccer League title with a 2-1 win over Seattle Reign FC on Sunday at Starfire Stadium.
It is the first title for Kansas City, which knocked off the league’s defending champion, the Portland Thorns, in the semifinals.
Rodriguez got behind the defense in the 21st minute and beat Reign keeper Hope Solo with her left foot to open the scoring.
Last season’s scoring champion put Kansas City up 2-0 in the 56th minute, netting a cross from Lauren Holiday.
Associated Press
