Levin leads Memorial after three rounds
Golf: Spencer Levin realizes that a one-shot lead going into the final round means next to nothing. If he didn’t learn this by blowing a six-shot lead at the Phoenix Open earlier this year, he was reminded of it on the back nine Saturday at the Memorial.
For the longest time, Levin simply couldn’t miss. He chipped in for eagle from behind the fifth green. He holed a chip from 30 yards short of the 10th green for birdie, this one giving him a four-shot lead on a tough day at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.
Eight holes later, his lead was down to one over Rory Sabbatini.
Levin relied on a few good breaks and one good par save to match the low round of the day with a 3-under-par 69, giving him another chance at his first PGA Tour victory and an opportunity to get into the U.S. Open without having to go through a 36-hole qualifier.
Levin, who had one of only three rounds in the 60s, was at 8-under 208 and will play in the final group with Sabbatini, a six-time PGA Tour winner who shot 71.
• Haas opens lead in Iowa: Jay Haas will carry a three-shot lead into the final round of the Principal Charity Classic after shooting a 6-under 65 in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Haas, who won the Champions Tour event at Glen Oaks Country Club in 2007 and 2008, will try to become the first golfer to win three times in Iowa. He is at 11 under following his bogey-free performance in the second round.
Larry Mize eagled the 18th hole to get within three of Haas at 8 under. Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett shot a 73 and sits at 147, nine shots back.
• Lewis ties tournament record: Stacy Lewis tied a tournament 36-hole record with a second-round 65 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club to maintain the lead entering today’s final round in Galloway Township, N.J.
Lewis’ two-day total of 130 leads Anna Nordqvist, who shot a 67, by six strokes and holds a seven-stroke edge over the third-place foursome of So Yoen Ryu, Azahara Munoz, Katherine Hull and Paula Creamer. Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., withdrew after Friday’s 79.
• Alabama, Texas in NCAA finals: Alabama and Texas won their semifinals matches of the NCAA golf championship at Riviera in Los Angeles, and will meet today with the title on the line.
Alabama’s match against California went down to the final group and the 18th hole. Hunter Hamrick was 1-up going into the final hole and made a par to defeat Joel Stalter.
Texas had a 2-1 advantage over Oregon and won the match when Julio Vegas, brother of PGA Tour player, Jhonattan Vegas, drained a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to defeat Andrew Vijarro.
Vilma’s lawyer challenges ledger
NFL: The attorney for suspended New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma says a ledger of under-the-table cash bonuses and fines for Saints players shows no proof of bounties placed on targeted opponents.
Lawyer Peter Ginsberg said the leaking of the ledger to the media shows how “misguided and irresponsible” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been in handling the bounty investigation of the Saints.
People familiar with the ledger told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday that the document indicates payments of $1,000 for plays called “cart-offs” and $400 for “whacks,” as well as $100 fines for mental errors.
• Vikings’ Felton arrested: Minnesota Vikings fullback Jerome Felton has been arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired and refusing to submit to a chemical test.
Eden Prairie police say Felton was arrested Friday just before midnight. A message left with police Saturday seeking additional details wasn’t immediately returned.
St. John’s walk-off stuns North Carolina
College World Series: Danny Bethea hit a walk-off three-run homer to help St. John’s stun North Carolina 5-4 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Bethea’s shot sent Red Storm players spilling onto the field to celebrate. St. John’s (39-21) can reach the NCAA tournament’s super regionals with a win tonight.
North Carolina (45-15), the No. 6 national seed, appeared on its way to its 17th straight win as a regional host thanks to a two-run homer from Shell McCain and a strong performance from starter Kent Emanuel.
• Dantzler’s hit in 12th gives SC win: LB Dantzler’s single to right drove in the winning run in the 12th inning as two-time defending College World Series champion South Carolina won its 18th straight NCAA tournament game with a 5-4 victory over Clemson in the Columbia Regional in Columbia, S.C.
The Gamecocks (42-17) trailed 4-2 entering their half of the eighth but tied things on Christian Walker’s double to left and Joey Pankake’s ninth-inning single. The Gamecocks need one win to advance to the super regionals. Clemson (34-27) must win three games.
• TCU uses 28-run barrage to beat Dayton: TCU scored 22 runs over the last four innings to stay alive in the NCAA tournament and eliminate Dayton with a 28-12 victory in the College Station Regional in College Station, Texas.
Dayton led 9-6 going into the sixth before TCU (37-20) scored seven in the top half of that inning to grab a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Brance Rivera had six RBIs, while Jerrick Suiter had five hits. Justin Scharf (3-2) earned the victory.
• Keudell leads Ducks: Alex Keudell (11-4) became Oregon’s career leader in wins with 23, pitching the host Ducks past Cal State Fullerton 7-5 in the Eugene Regional.
Oregon (44-17), the No. 5 national seed, needs one win to move on to the super regionals.
LSU hands South Florida defeat
Softball: LSU’s A.J. Andrews scored on an infield fly in the sixth inning to lead the Tigers (40-24) to a 1-0 win over South Florida (50-14) in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
• ASU beats LSU: Defending champion Arizona State staved off elimination with a 6-0 win over LSU in the Women’s College World Series.
The Sun Devils will have to beat No. 4 seed Oklahoma twice this afternoon to advance to Monday’s championship series.
• Cal fights off elimination: The top-ranked California Bears extended their season with a 6-3 win over Oregon.
Cal’s Jace Williams crushed a three-run home run on a 2-2 Jessica Moore pitch in the first.