Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Sports Briefs: Ochoa stretches lead with eight birdies
By The Associated Press
Friday, February 29, 2008 | No comments posted.
SINGAPORE — Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa increased her lead to seven strokes today in the HSBC Women’s Champions, shooting a 7-under 65 at Tanah Merah in her second tournament round of the year.
“It was great from my driver to the putting. I kept hitting my second shots really close and gave myself a lot of birdie chances, so I was very consistent,” Ochoa said.
The Mexican star, an eight-time winner last season, is making her first start of the year after skipping the World Cup and LPGA Tour’s opening two events in Hawaii.
Ochoa had eight birdies — including four in a row on the front nine. She has a 13-under 131 total on the Garden course.
“I just got on a birdie run,” Ochoa said. “On these greens, it’s all about putting the ball on the right of the greens.... I’ve been hitting it really good, especially having good tee shots.”
Annika Sorenstam had five birdies in her bogey-free round of 5-under 67, giving her a 6-under 138 to share second place with American Paula Creamer and South Korea’s Kim In-kyung.
“It was just good golf,” Sorenstam said. “I just needed one good putt to kick-start the great finish and I was just very solid throughout the round.”
Sorenstam is healthy and confident again after an injury-shortened 2007 season in which the Swedish star was winless for the first time since her rookie season in 1994. She won the season-opening SBS Open this month in Hawaii for her 70th LPGA Tour title.
Donald holds early lead
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — A bogey-free 64 gave Luke Donald a one-shot lead over Brian Davis and a two-shot edge on Matt Jones after the first round of The Honda Classic.
Matt Jones (66) was alone in third, two shots off the pace, with a slew of others — including Ernie Els, the world’s No. 4 player — three shots back.
HORSE RACING
Curlin wins first race as 4-year old
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Curlin had an easy time winning his 4-year-old debut in Dubai.
The 2007 Horse of the Year had a perfect trip and a perfect result in rolling to a 21⁄4-length victory in the $175,000 Jaguar Trophy Handicap.
Curlin defeated five rivals in his first race since capturing the Breeders’ Cup Classic last Oct. 27, at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park. The colt also won the Preakness and ran a close second to the filly Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes.
COURTS
Bonds perjury case not likely to be thrown out
SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds has little chance of having his perjury case dropped.
Bonds’ lawyers were scheduled to ask U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston today to dismiss a federal indictment charging him with perjury and obstruction of justice for his grand jury testimony, in which he denied knowingly using illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Bonds argues that prosecutors unfairly asked confusing, vague and ambiguous questions during his grand jury appearance in December 2003. The former San Francisco Giants star has pleaded not guilty. In court papers, he neither admits nor denies taking the drugs.
If the judge declines to dismiss the charges, Bonds wants prosecutors to streamline the indictment, which cites 19 different instances of Bonds’ alleged lying but only charges him with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction.
In his papers, Bonds makes detailed attacks on every allegation and complains that each charge should cite only one instance of lying.
“It’s a really smart tactic to pick out every single question and answer,” said University of California, San Francisco law school professor Rory Little, a former federal prosecutor. “Bonds has made a very strong case that there is some duplication and some questions aren’t as well-phrased as they could be.”
But Little and other legal experts said they would be shocked if Bonds succeeds in getting the case dismissed.
Little said prosecutors may seek to file an updated indictment if the judge shows support for parts of Bonds’ arguments. Prosecutors often file new indictments that clarify charges but don’t usually alter the central accusations, according to Little.
Golden Gate University law professor Peter Keane said judges rarely toss out criminal cases, and that Bonds’ motion to dismiss the case is a routine — if doomed — defense tactic.
“Every now and then you strike oil, but I would be very surprised if Judge Illston dismissed the case,” Keane said. “It’s not going to happen.”
“It was great from my driver to the putting. I kept hitting my second shots really close and gave myself a lot of birdie chances, so I was very consistent,” Ochoa said.
The Mexican star, an eight-time winner last season, is making her first start of the year after skipping the World Cup and LPGA Tour’s opening two events in Hawaii.
Ochoa had eight birdies — including four in a row on the front nine. She has a 13-under 131 total on the Garden course.
“I just got on a birdie run,” Ochoa said. “On these greens, it’s all about putting the ball on the right of the greens.... I’ve been hitting it really good, especially having good tee shots.”
Annika Sorenstam had five birdies in her bogey-free round of 5-under 67, giving her a 6-under 138 to share second place with American Paula Creamer and South Korea’s Kim In-kyung.
“It was just good golf,” Sorenstam said. “I just needed one good putt to kick-start the great finish and I was just very solid throughout the round.”
Sorenstam is healthy and confident again after an injury-shortened 2007 season in which the Swedish star was winless for the first time since her rookie season in 1994. She won the season-opening SBS Open this month in Hawaii for her 70th LPGA Tour title.
Donald holds early lead
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — A bogey-free 64 gave Luke Donald a one-shot lead over Brian Davis and a two-shot edge on Matt Jones after the first round of The Honda Classic.
Matt Jones (66) was alone in third, two shots off the pace, with a slew of others — including Ernie Els, the world’s No. 4 player — three shots back.
HORSE RACING
Curlin wins first race as 4-year old
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Curlin had an easy time winning his 4-year-old debut in Dubai.
The 2007 Horse of the Year had a perfect trip and a perfect result in rolling to a 21⁄4-length victory in the $175,000 Jaguar Trophy Handicap.
Curlin defeated five rivals in his first race since capturing the Breeders’ Cup Classic last Oct. 27, at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park. The colt also won the Preakness and ran a close second to the filly Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes.
COURTS
Bonds perjury case not likely to be thrown out
SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds has little chance of having his perjury case dropped.
Bonds’ lawyers were scheduled to ask U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston today to dismiss a federal indictment charging him with perjury and obstruction of justice for his grand jury testimony, in which he denied knowingly using illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Bonds argues that prosecutors unfairly asked confusing, vague and ambiguous questions during his grand jury appearance in December 2003. The former San Francisco Giants star has pleaded not guilty. In court papers, he neither admits nor denies taking the drugs.
If the judge declines to dismiss the charges, Bonds wants prosecutors to streamline the indictment, which cites 19 different instances of Bonds’ alleged lying but only charges him with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction.
In his papers, Bonds makes detailed attacks on every allegation and complains that each charge should cite only one instance of lying.
“It’s a really smart tactic to pick out every single question and answer,” said University of California, San Francisco law school professor Rory Little, a former federal prosecutor. “Bonds has made a very strong case that there is some duplication and some questions aren’t as well-phrased as they could be.”
But Little and other legal experts said they would be shocked if Bonds succeeds in getting the case dismissed.
Little said prosecutors may seek to file an updated indictment if the judge shows support for parts of Bonds’ arguments. Prosecutors often file new indictments that clarify charges but don’t usually alter the central accusations, according to Little.
Golden Gate University law professor Peter Keane said judges rarely toss out criminal cases, and that Bonds’ motion to dismiss the case is a routine — if doomed — defense tactic.
“Every now and then you strike oil, but I would be very surprised if Judge Illston dismissed the case,” Keane said. “It’s not going to happen.”
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines