Scott in front of pack at Bridgestone
Four days after closing with a 67 for his best finish in a major, Adam Scott made nine birdies over his last 12 holes Thursday for a 7-under-par 63, giving him a two-shot lead over Jason Gore and leaving him four shots clear of Tiger Woods in the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Woods didn’t look nearly as sharp as he was at Medinah, where he captured his 12th career major with a five-shot victory. He traded birdies and bogeys until finishing strongly with wedges into 8 feet at No. 16 and 12 feet on No. 18 for a 67.
•Stacy Prammanasudh shot a 6-under 66 to share lead with Jee Young Lee, Kristal Parker-Manzo and Katie Futcher in the opening round of the Wendy’s Championship for Children in Dublin, Ohio. Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot a 69 and Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum at 77.
•Canadian Ryan Yip beat Kevin Tway 6 and 5 to advance to the third round of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. Alex Prugh of Spokane won 1-up on the 22nd hole over Jeff Castle.
•Will MacKenzie tied a PGA Tour record with three eagles in one round, including a 52-foot putt, and shot a 9-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead over Bob Estes in the opening round of the Reno-Tahoe Open.
Track and Field
Gatlin awaits word
Justin Gatlin will keep his share of the 100-meter world record until the completion of the appeal process in his doping case. Gatlin, the Olympic and world champion in the 100, received an eight-year ban from the United States Anti-Doping Association on Tuesday.
•The NCAA announced the Arkansas Razorbacks would host three national championships from 2008 to 2010. Arkansas was awarded the 2008 and 2010 indoor championships and the 2009 outdoor championship.
Drake will host the 2008 outdoor championships, Oregon received the 2010 outdoor meet and Texas A&M will host the 2009 indoor championships and Indiana State received the 2007 cross country national championships.
Miscellany
U.S. team rolls
The U.S. closed a perfect week of group play by routing Senegal 103-58 at the FIBA world basketball championships in Sapporo, Japan. The U.S. will open the tournament’s medal phase against Australia on Sunday.
•Former major league slugger Albert Belle has been sentenced to three months in a Phoenix jail and five years of supervised probation for stalking his ex-girlfriend.
•The Tennis Channel is buying the U.S. cable TV rights to the French Open previously held by ESPN2.
•Despite rumors, there will be no changes to the 10 races in the Chase for the championship, with much of next season’s NASCAR schedule the same as this year’s.
•Columbus, Ga., defeated Portsmouth, N.H., 8-0 and will meet Beaverton, Ore., on Saturday, with that winner facing the Japan-Mexico victor in the Little League World Series finale in Williamsport, Pa. Japan defeated Saudi Arabia 4-1.