Sports in brief: Weir takes 1-shot lead at Mercedes
Mike Weir finally got one last birdie putt to fall, and it was enough to put him in the lead Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Kapalua, Hawaii.
But even after a 5-under 68, one look at the leaderboard told the Canadian he would need another one just like it in today’s final round, if not better.
Weir, who missed three straight birdie chances inside 10 feet on the back nine, birdied the par-5 18th that put him at 13-under 206 and gave him a one-shot lead over Nick Watney, who birdied his last two holes for a 67.
Daniel Chopra (67) and Jonathan Byrd (69) were another stroke back.
Hockey
Canada wins again
Matt Halischuk gave Canada its fourth straight world junior hockey title, scoring 3:36 into overtime for a 3-2 victory over Sweden in Pardubice, Czech Republic.
After Brad Marchand and Claude Giroux gave Canada a 2-0 lead in the first period, Jonathan Carlsson and Tomas Larsson tied it in the third, with Larsson scoring with 38 seconds left in regulation.
In the third-place game, Russia beat the United States 4-2.
Winter sports
Swiss don’t miss
Marc Berthod led a 1-2 finish for Switzerland in a World Cup giant slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland. Ted Ligety of the United States fell near the start and Bode Miller missed a gate during a treacherous first leg that 23 skiers did not complete.
Berthod finished in 2 minutes, 27.56 seconds, more than a half second ahead of Daniel Albrecht.
“Italy’s Denise Karbon won her fourth consecutive giant slalom, this one in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, after beginning the season with just one World Cup victory.
She mastered a difficult course and was followed by Tanja Poutiainen of Finland and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria. The top Americans were Julia Mancuso in eighth place and Lindsey Vonn, 11th.
“At Graz, Austria, Stefan Gimpl won his second straight Big Air snowboarding World Cup event to take the lead in the discipline standings.
The 28-year-old Austrian earned his third career World Cup win by beating Matti Kinnunen of Finland in the final at the Messegelaende Graz.
“Road race expert Boris Said proved to be the master of Mount Van Hoevenberg again on Saturday, winning both races in the third annual Bodine Bobsled Challenge in Lake Placid, N.Y.
In the three years this unique event featuring race car drivers on ice has been run, Said has won five of six races, finishing second to Kevin Lepage the only time he didn’t take the gold.
Miscellany
Cougs win meet
Washington State University’s swim team won the 10-team UCI/Ayres Hotel & Suites Sprint Invitational in Irvine, Calif.
The Cougars used first-place finishes by Rugile Mileisyte (100 backstroke), Elyse Peterson (100 breaststroke) and Shawna Keller (50 breaststroke) to pile up 659 points – easily outdistancing runner-up UC Irvine with 409.
“Former NBA star Scottie Pippen, 42, scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds to help Finland league leader Torpan Pojat beat Honka 98-85 in Vantaa, Finland.
“June Jones has resigned as the University of Hawaii’s football coach, according to reports.
The Honolulu Advertiser, citing Jones’ friend, Al Souza, reported Jones resigned Saturday morning. Jones said he would leave the university because of a lack of commitment from athletic department leaders, among other reasons, the paper said.
“Paulie Malignaggi successfully defended his IBF junior-welterweight title, unanimously outpointing Canada’s Herman Ngoudjo at Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.