In brief: Howell grabs lead at Sony Open
Charles Howell III devoted his off-season to putting and it continued to pay off Saturday when he birdied his last two holes for a 5-under-par 65, giving him a one-shot lead over Luke Donald going into the final round of the Sony Open in Honolulu.
Still in the mix at Waialae was 16-year-old Tadd Fujikawa, the pint-sized sophomore from Honolulu. A day after becoming the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut on the PGA Tour, he shot another 66 and was tied for eighth, six shots behind.
“I don’t have anything to lose right now,” Fujikawa said.
“Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson grabbed a share of the front-nine lead in the Champions Skins Game in Wailea, Hawaii, teaming for two skins to match defending champions Raymond Floyd and Dana Quigley at $60,000.
The duos of Arnold Palmer-Loren Roberts and Gary Player-Jay Haas were shut out.
Football
Gailey interviewed
Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey, a Pittsburgh Steelers assistant for four seasons in the 1990s, met with the team for three hours as the search for Bill Cowher’s replacement continues.
Gailey also interviewed recently with the Miami Dolphins.
“New York Giants star Michael Strahan was ordered in a Newark, N.J., court to pay his ex-wife $15.3 million in keeping with the couple’s prenuptial agreement.
Under the agreement, Jean Strahan was entitled to 50 percent of their joint marital assets and 20 percent of his yearly income from each year they were married.
“Florida All-America safety Reggie Nelson and defensive end Jarvis Moss confirmed they will leave school early and enter the NFL draft.
“Marshall Sperbeck took over the Sacramento State football program, joining the Hornets after 15 years as head coach at Foothill College (Los Altos Hills, Calif).
Sperbeck led the Foothill Owls to a 109-53 overall record, including 11 bowl appearances. After posting a 10-1 record this past season, Foothill beat nearby Sierra College 24-0 in the Silicon Valley Bowl.
Winter sports
Miller posts win
American Bode Miller skied aggressively in the final turns before crashing across the finish line to win the hallowed Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen, Switzerland, moving within two wins of Phil Mahre’s U.S. record 27 World Cup victories.
Miller was timed in 2 minutes, 28.89 seconds for his 25th World Cup win, 0.65 seconds faster than Didier Cuche of Switzerland. Peter Fill of Italy was third, 1.47 seconds behind Miller. American Steven Nyman was 11th.
“Canadian Kristi Richards won her first World Cup gold medal, upsetting teammate Jennifer Heil in the dual moguls in sub-zero cold at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. American Hannah Kearney finished third.
“Eric Bernotas and Katie Uhlaender gave the United States a sweep of the gold medals in World Cup skeleton races on the 1998 Nagano (Japan) Olympic track.
Miscellany
Barbaro re-casted
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro had another section of his laminitis-stricken left hind hoof removed and a cast was placed back on his right hind leg for additional support.
“Notional sailed to a four-length victory in the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., making the colt an early contender for the Kentucky Derby.
“Michael Phelps easily won the 100- and 500-yard freestyles in the Southern California Grand Prix of Swimming in Long Beach, Calif.
Phelps won the 100 free in 42.43 seconds over Ian Crocker, who finished in 42.88. Phelps led all the way to win the 500 in 4:14.57.