Watson carries two-shot lead at Travelers
Golf: Although Bubba Watson will always have a soft spot in his heart for Augusta National, he enjoys playing TPC at River Highlands nearly as much.
Watson shot a 3-under-par 67 Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Patrick Reed and Padraig Harrington after two rounds of the Travelers Championship at Cromwell, Conn.
The 2010 Travelers champion was at 10-under 130. Reed and Harrington were at 8-under after both shot 66s in the second round. Four players – including 2007 champion Hunter Mahan – were tied for fourth at 7-under.
One week after winning the U.S. Open at Merion, Justin Rose was tied for 12th at 5-under. Chris Williams of Moscow, Idaho, who recently finished his University of Washington career, shot a 68 and was at 1-under 139.
• Els guards lead in Germany: Ernie Els shot a 3-under 69 in the second round of the BMW International Open at Munich to maintain his one-stroke lead.
The South African made six birdies, a double bogey and a bogey, leaving him at 12-under 132 halfway through the European Tour event.
He is followed by Matthew Baldwin of England (69) and Alexander Levy of France (68).
• Miyazato’s 65 paces field: Mika Miyazato birdied six of 10 holes in the middle of her round to shoot a 6-under 65 and earn the first-round lead at LPGA Tour’s NW Arkansas Championship at Rogers, Ark.
The Japanese golfer hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation to finish a shot ahead of So Yeon Ryu and Angela Stanford at 5 under.
World No. 1 Inbee Park is four shots off the lead after shooting a 2-under 69. Edwall, Wash., resident Wendy Ward shot a 72, and former Washington State golfer Kim Welch shot 73.
• Stadler grabs share of lead: Craig Stadler birdied five of his first 11 holes to jump into a share of the lead with Duffy Waldorf and Bernhard Langer at 5-under-par 67 in the rain-delayed Champions Tour Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club.
There were 23 players left on the course when play on the 54-hole tournament was suspended by darkness at Glenview, Ill. Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett was 1 under after 14 holes.
The players with holes remaining will finish their rounds today before the second round begins.
Showdown between Federer, Nadal looms
Tennis: Seven-time champion Roger Federer could face Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
Friday’s draw for the grass-court Grand Slam placed the third-seeded Federer and No. 5 Nadal in the same half. Federer is the defending Wimbledon champion, while Nadal is a two-time winner.
Home favorite Andy Murray, who is seeded No. 2, is also in the same bottom half and could meet Nadal or Federer in the semifinal.
Top-seeded Novak Djokovic is in the top half and has a much easier path to the final, facing a possible semifinal against No. 4 David Ferrer.
• Hampton reaches Eastbourne final: American qualifier Jamie Hampton reached the first final of her career when she defeated 2009 champion Caroline Wozniacki 6-7 (8), 7-5, 6-3 at Eastbourne, England.
Vesnina beat Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-2, 6-0 in 51 minutes and will be bidding for her second title of the year after winning Hobart in January.
In the men’s semifinals, Feliciano Lopez of Spain defeated Igor Dodig of Croatia 7-6 (3), 6-1 and second-seeded Gilles Simon of France beat seventh-seeded Andrea Seppi of Italy 6-4, 6-3.
• Halep, Flipkens reach final at Topshelf Open: Simona Halep reached her second final in a week by defeating third-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2 at the Topshelf Open in Rosmalen, Netherlands. She’ll face Kirsten Flipkens, who beat Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-1.
Mississippi St. ousts Beavers from CWS
College baseball: Hunter Renfroe hit a three-run homer off the back wall of the left-field bullpen, and Mississippi State advanced to the College World Series finals with a 4-1 victory over Oregon State in Omaha, Neb.
The Bulldogs (51-18) beat the Beavers for the second time in the CWS and will play for the first time in the best-of-three championship round that starts Monday against UCLA.
• UCLA advances to CWS finals: Pat Valaika’s two-run double gave UCLA some cushion, record-setting closer David Berg survived a rocky ninth inning and UCLA defeated top-seeded North Carolina 4-1 to move to the championship round of the College World Series.
The Tar Heels (59-12) twice loaded the bases in the ninth against Berg but came away with only one run, with the game ending on Landon Lassiter’s flyout to center.
Family seeks answers in NFL murder case
Miscellany: Family members of the man found slain a mile from New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez’s house say they are looking for answers about what happened the night he died.
Police have searched Hernandez’s home in North Attleborough, not far from where the Patriots practice. The Bristol County District Attorney has not released any information, other than saying the death of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd was a homicide.
ABC News said Friday that Hernandez is the subject of an arrest warrant drawn up on obstruction of justice charges based on the possible destruction of evidence, but that the warrant has not yet been issued by the court.
• Spain throttles U.S.: Spain showed why it is favored to win the Under-20 World Cup, beating the United States 4-1 in an opening game at Istanbul behind two goals each from star strikers Jese and Gerard Deulofeu.
The Americans’ lone goal was scored by Luis Gil from just outside the penalty area in the 77th minute.
• Storm edge Silver Stars: Camille Little had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Tina Thompson scored 10 of her 21 points in the final five minutes, and the Seattle Storm beat the Silver Stars 91-86 at San Antonio in a WNBA game.
Temeka Johnson, Noelle Quinn and Tanisha Wright added 12 points each to help the Storm win their third straight.
• Bolt wins 100 finals at Jamaica nationals: Usain Bolt clocked a 9.94 seconds in the 100 meters to win the finals of the Jamaica national championships. Former world record holder Asafa Powell did not finish in the top three and therefore didn’t qualify for the world championships.