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Sports Briefs: Blumenherst takes Women’s Amateur
By The Associated Press
Monday, August 11, 2008 | No comments posted.
EUGENE — Duke star Amanda Blumenherst won the U.S. Women’s Amateur on Sunday, rallying to beat NCAA champion Azahara Munoz 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final at Eugene Country Club.
Blumenherst, the three-time national college player of the year, was 1-down after the morning 18 and still a hole behind through 27. She squared it with a birdie on the par-4 10th and took the lead with a par on the par-5 13th — the 31st hole of the match.
“That’s a lot of golf to have never been ahead,” Blumenherst said. “I think that’s just a testament of how much patience that’s required.”
Blumenherst pulled two holes in front with a birdie on the par-5 16th. Both players parred 17 to end the match, with Munoz missing a 6-foot birdie try that would have extended the match and Blumenherst ending it with a 5-footer.
The two-time Curtis Cup player won the tournament a year after a 1-up loss to Maria Uribe in the final at Crooked Stick.
“I’m so excited,” Blumenherst said. “Last year was really tough not winning. I’m very proud of myself with how I played. I wanted this so much. I would have been crushed if I wouldn’t have won it. If I hadn’t had last year’s experience I may have given up a little bit or tried to force something.”
Munoz, the Arizona State star from Spain, was trying to become the first player to win the NCAA and Women’s Amateur in the same season since Georgia’s Vicki Goetze in 1992. Munoz was 2-up after 23 holes.
“I’m happy because I played good, but, obviously, I’m sad because I lost,” Munoz said. “I gave my best and that’s all I could do.”
Yang wins Scandinavian TPC
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Amy Yang of South Korea spoiled Annika Sorenstam’s finale on home turf, tying the course record with a 9-under 63 for a six-shot victory at the Scandinavian TPC.
Sorenstam eagled the par-4 17th to move into second place. The Swedish Hall of Famer took a double-bogey on the last hole, hitting her tee shot into the water and three-putting.
Sorenstam, the tournament host, shot 72 and finished seven strokes back to tie for sixth with three other Swedes. She was greeted by a packed gallery on the 18th green.
“I decided to forget that I hit the ball in the water,” Sorenstam said. “I enjoyed seeing the fans making the wave and applauding when I went up to the green. It felt really good.”
The 19-year-old Yang captured her second win as a professional in the rain-shortened 54-hole tournament with a 14-under 202 total at the Frosaker Golf and Country Club.
AUTO RACING
Schumacher earns fourth straight
BRAINERD, Minn. — Tony Schumacher raced to his fourth straight victory and ninth of the season Sunday, winning the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals to move within two Joe Amato’s Top Fuel win record of 52.
Schumacher powered his dragster to a performance of 3.865 seconds at 310.05 mph to outrun Cory McClenathan (3.900 at 306.74) in the final round at Brainerd International Raceway. Schumacher has three career wins at the Minnesota dragstrip.
Tony Pedregon, Kurt Johnson and Matt Smith also won their divisions in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event, the 16th of 18 events in the Countdown to 10, NHRA’s regular season. The Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race championship playoffs, begins Sept. 11-14 at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C.
Pedregon took his fourth Funny Car win of the season at the starting line in his Chevy Impala when Jack Beckman fouled in his Dodge Stratus. Pedregon’s 40th career victory and first at BIR moved him into second place in the season standings.
Johnson, a native of Virginia, Minn., earned his third Pro Stock victory of the season and 39th of his career with a win over Dave Connolly. Johnson’s Chevy Cobalt ran 6.671 at 207.05 in the final to hold off Connolly’s Cobalt, which clocked a 6.696 at 206.29. It was Johnson’s fourth victory at BIR.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Smith overcame kidney stones to claim his third win of the season and ninth of his career. He rode his Buell to a 6.973 at 188.60 in the final, but ran unopposed as opponent Angelle Sampey’s Buell broke on the starting line.
Pit stop propels Ambrose
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Marcos Ambrose took advantage of a fortuitous pit stop midway through the Nationwide Zippo 200 on Saturday and easily beat Kyle Busch for his first career NASCAR victory.
Ambrose, from Tasmania, was in the pits on lap 42 when the fourth caution of the 82-lap race flew. He gained the lead on lap 48 but gave it up right away to pit for fuel.
Ambrose slowly worked his way up to third with 12 laps to go as Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson battled for the lead. But the two leaders ran out of fuel with three laps remaining and Ambrose coasted to the victory in the No. 59 Ford.
Ambrose was third last week in the rain in Montreal after leading the most laps and second on the road course in Mexico.
Benson’s streak extends to three
GLADEVILLE, Tenn. — Johnny Benson became the fifth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver to win three straight races, passing Erik Darnell with three laps left and pulling away in the Toyota Tundra 200 on Saturday night.
Benson, the winner of four of the last five races, joined Mike Skinner (1996 and 2007), Ron Hornaday (1997), Greg Biffle (2000) and Todd Bodine (2005) as the only drivers to win three races in a row in the series’ 13-year history.
Darnell held on to finish second. Polesitter Bodine led the first 74 laps and finished third. Jack Sprague was fourth, followed by Hornaday.
BASEBALL
Wakefield out for two games
CHICAGO — Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will miss at least two starts and go on the disabled list because of a stiff right shoulder.
Wakefield returned to Boston on Sunday for a cortisone shot after cutting short a throwing session the previous day. The 42-year-old right-hander experienced some stiffness while holding Kansas City to four hits over six innings in an 8-2 win on Wednesday.
PRO FOOTBALL
Leftwich goes to Steelers
LATROBE, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich, choosing the former Jacksonville Jaguars starter over Daunte Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowl player.
The Steelers signed the 28-year-old Leftwich after both he and Culpepper worked out at the team’s training camp at Saint Vincent College.
Pittsburgh needed a backup for Ben Roethlisberger after veteran Charlie Batch broke his right collarbone in Friday night’s 16-10 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Batch, who is scheduled for surgery Monday, is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Andrews appears at Eagles camp
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Philadelphia Eagles guard Shawn Andrews reported to training camp after missing the first 17 days for unexcused personal reasons.
Andrews told two newspapers last week that he was battling depression, which he said started a year ago and had worsened. He told The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News that he had decided to seek professional help and was on medication.
Andrews has been removed from the reserve/did not report list and placed on the active/physically unable to perform list. It is uncertain when the two-time Pro Bowl selection will practice.
Browns’ Edwards injures foot
BEREA, Ohio — Browns wideout Braylon Edwards was running a sprint in his socks when fellow receiver Donte’ Stallworth stepped on the back of his foot and opened a cut that required stitches and a night in the hospital.
Edwards spent Saturday night at the Cleveland Clinic and was released Sunday afternoon. The stay was precautionary and the injury wasn’t thought to be serious, Browns coach Romeo Crennel said.
TENNIS
Teenager wins Countrywide
LOS ANGELES — Lanky teenager Juan Martin del Potro won his third title in less than a month when he rolled to a 6-1, 7-6(2) victory over Andy Roddick in the Countrywide Classic final.
The 6-foot-6, 172-pound del Potro extended his match victory string to 14 in a row with powerful, pinpoint groundstrokes against Roddick.
Roddick, a former No. 1 who is ranked ninth and was the tournament’s top seed, looked overwhelmed as his service was broken three times in the first set after not losing any of his 24 previous service games in the tournament.
WASHINGTON — Nicolas Mahut beat Wayne Odesnik 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the opening match of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. Mahut, ranked No. 83 in the world, had 17 aces, including one in the final game that helped him rally from down 30-0.
Blumenherst, the three-time national college player of the year, was 1-down after the morning 18 and still a hole behind through 27. She squared it with a birdie on the par-4 10th and took the lead with a par on the par-5 13th — the 31st hole of the match.
“That’s a lot of golf to have never been ahead,” Blumenherst said. “I think that’s just a testament of how much patience that’s required.”
Blumenherst pulled two holes in front with a birdie on the par-5 16th. Both players parred 17 to end the match, with Munoz missing a 6-foot birdie try that would have extended the match and Blumenherst ending it with a 5-footer.
The two-time Curtis Cup player won the tournament a year after a 1-up loss to Maria Uribe in the final at Crooked Stick.
“I’m so excited,” Blumenherst said. “Last year was really tough not winning. I’m very proud of myself with how I played. I wanted this so much. I would have been crushed if I wouldn’t have won it. If I hadn’t had last year’s experience I may have given up a little bit or tried to force something.”
Munoz, the Arizona State star from Spain, was trying to become the first player to win the NCAA and Women’s Amateur in the same season since Georgia’s Vicki Goetze in 1992. Munoz was 2-up after 23 holes.
“I’m happy because I played good, but, obviously, I’m sad because I lost,” Munoz said. “I gave my best and that’s all I could do.”
Yang wins Scandinavian TPC
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Amy Yang of South Korea spoiled Annika Sorenstam’s finale on home turf, tying the course record with a 9-under 63 for a six-shot victory at the Scandinavian TPC.
Sorenstam eagled the par-4 17th to move into second place. The Swedish Hall of Famer took a double-bogey on the last hole, hitting her tee shot into the water and three-putting.
Sorenstam, the tournament host, shot 72 and finished seven strokes back to tie for sixth with three other Swedes. She was greeted by a packed gallery on the 18th green.
“I decided to forget that I hit the ball in the water,” Sorenstam said. “I enjoyed seeing the fans making the wave and applauding when I went up to the green. It felt really good.”
The 19-year-old Yang captured her second win as a professional in the rain-shortened 54-hole tournament with a 14-under 202 total at the Frosaker Golf and Country Club.
AUTO RACING
Schumacher earns fourth straight
BRAINERD, Minn. — Tony Schumacher raced to his fourth straight victory and ninth of the season Sunday, winning the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals to move within two Joe Amato’s Top Fuel win record of 52.
Schumacher powered his dragster to a performance of 3.865 seconds at 310.05 mph to outrun Cory McClenathan (3.900 at 306.74) in the final round at Brainerd International Raceway. Schumacher has three career wins at the Minnesota dragstrip.
Tony Pedregon, Kurt Johnson and Matt Smith also won their divisions in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event, the 16th of 18 events in the Countdown to 10, NHRA’s regular season. The Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race championship playoffs, begins Sept. 11-14 at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C.
Pedregon took his fourth Funny Car win of the season at the starting line in his Chevy Impala when Jack Beckman fouled in his Dodge Stratus. Pedregon’s 40th career victory and first at BIR moved him into second place in the season standings.
Johnson, a native of Virginia, Minn., earned his third Pro Stock victory of the season and 39th of his career with a win over Dave Connolly. Johnson’s Chevy Cobalt ran 6.671 at 207.05 in the final to hold off Connolly’s Cobalt, which clocked a 6.696 at 206.29. It was Johnson’s fourth victory at BIR.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Smith overcame kidney stones to claim his third win of the season and ninth of his career. He rode his Buell to a 6.973 at 188.60 in the final, but ran unopposed as opponent Angelle Sampey’s Buell broke on the starting line.
Pit stop propels Ambrose
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Marcos Ambrose took advantage of a fortuitous pit stop midway through the Nationwide Zippo 200 on Saturday and easily beat Kyle Busch for his first career NASCAR victory.
Ambrose, from Tasmania, was in the pits on lap 42 when the fourth caution of the 82-lap race flew. He gained the lead on lap 48 but gave it up right away to pit for fuel.
Ambrose slowly worked his way up to third with 12 laps to go as Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson battled for the lead. But the two leaders ran out of fuel with three laps remaining and Ambrose coasted to the victory in the No. 59 Ford.
Ambrose was third last week in the rain in Montreal after leading the most laps and second on the road course in Mexico.
Benson’s streak extends to three
GLADEVILLE, Tenn. — Johnny Benson became the fifth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver to win three straight races, passing Erik Darnell with three laps left and pulling away in the Toyota Tundra 200 on Saturday night.
Benson, the winner of four of the last five races, joined Mike Skinner (1996 and 2007), Ron Hornaday (1997), Greg Biffle (2000) and Todd Bodine (2005) as the only drivers to win three races in a row in the series’ 13-year history.
Darnell held on to finish second. Polesitter Bodine led the first 74 laps and finished third. Jack Sprague was fourth, followed by Hornaday.
BASEBALL
Wakefield out for two games
CHICAGO — Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will miss at least two starts and go on the disabled list because of a stiff right shoulder.
Wakefield returned to Boston on Sunday for a cortisone shot after cutting short a throwing session the previous day. The 42-year-old right-hander experienced some stiffness while holding Kansas City to four hits over six innings in an 8-2 win on Wednesday.
PRO FOOTBALL
Leftwich goes to Steelers
LATROBE, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich, choosing the former Jacksonville Jaguars starter over Daunte Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowl player.
The Steelers signed the 28-year-old Leftwich after both he and Culpepper worked out at the team’s training camp at Saint Vincent College.
Pittsburgh needed a backup for Ben Roethlisberger after veteran Charlie Batch broke his right collarbone in Friday night’s 16-10 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Batch, who is scheduled for surgery Monday, is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Andrews appears at Eagles camp
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Philadelphia Eagles guard Shawn Andrews reported to training camp after missing the first 17 days for unexcused personal reasons.
Andrews told two newspapers last week that he was battling depression, which he said started a year ago and had worsened. He told The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News that he had decided to seek professional help and was on medication.
Andrews has been removed from the reserve/did not report list and placed on the active/physically unable to perform list. It is uncertain when the two-time Pro Bowl selection will practice.
Browns’ Edwards injures foot
BEREA, Ohio — Browns wideout Braylon Edwards was running a sprint in his socks when fellow receiver Donte’ Stallworth stepped on the back of his foot and opened a cut that required stitches and a night in the hospital.
Edwards spent Saturday night at the Cleveland Clinic and was released Sunday afternoon. The stay was precautionary and the injury wasn’t thought to be serious, Browns coach Romeo Crennel said.
TENNIS
Teenager wins Countrywide
LOS ANGELES — Lanky teenager Juan Martin del Potro won his third title in less than a month when he rolled to a 6-1, 7-6(2) victory over Andy Roddick in the Countrywide Classic final.
The 6-foot-6, 172-pound del Potro extended his match victory string to 14 in a row with powerful, pinpoint groundstrokes against Roddick.
Roddick, a former No. 1 who is ranked ninth and was the tournament’s top seed, looked overwhelmed as his service was broken three times in the first set after not losing any of his 24 previous service games in the tournament.
WASHINGTON — Nicolas Mahut beat Wayne Odesnik 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the opening match of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. Mahut, ranked No. 83 in the world, had 17 aces, including one in the final game that helped him rally from down 30-0.
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