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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Torrid Jason Day takes four-shot lead at BMW Championship

Jason Day continued his hot streak at the BMW Championship, going 10 under through 17 holes before a weather delay. (Associated Press)
From Staff And Wire Reports

PGA: Jason Day already had seven birdies on his card and one eagle, courtesy of a shot he holed from 79 yards out of a fairway bunker. He was walking across a bridge Thursday at the BMW Championship when someone asked him during an exchange of greetings, “How are you doing, Jason?”

Jordan Spieth was a few steps ahead of Day, and he could hardly contain his laughter.

“Really? You’re asking him THAT?” Spieth said.

Day has never been better. He powered his way around Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Illinois, and was at 10 under par through 17 holes when thunderstorms halted the opening round. His final shot was a 346-yard tee shot with the wind at his back that settled in light rough and left him 44 yards away from a front pin.

He is playing better than anyone at the moment, a winner in three of his last five tournaments, including his first major. A victory in the third FedEx Cup playoff event would send him to No. 1 in the world for the first time, and not many would argue with that.

“No matter what you do, even if you hit a bad shot, it’s going to be all right,” Day said. “That’s kind of the way it feels. It’s hard to explain because I’m just out there and I’m not really paying attention to the score and I’m hitting it down the middle and hitting it on the greens and holing putts.”

Day was four shots ahead of PGA Tour rookie Daniel Berger, who had a 6-under 65. Brendon Todd had a 66. Only 17 players completed the opening round.

Spieth, five under, finally got on track. Coming off consecutive missed cuts that eventually cost him the No. 1 ranking, he had a hole-in-one on the par-3 second hole to end a peculiar drought. It was the first time in 72 holes that he was under par during any round in a tournament. He chipped in from 80 feet for birdie on the next hole.

Jim Furyk withdrew after six holes with a wrist injury, leaving it doubtful he can play in the Tour Championship and possibly the Presidents Cup.

Kane says he has ‘done nothing wrong’

HOCKEY: Speaking publicly for the first time since he became the subject of a sexual assault investigation, Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane said he has done nothing wrong and expects to be exonerated.

Kane is accused of assaulting a woman in her 20s in August at his offseason home outside Buffalo, New York, a person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because police have not revealed details of the case.

Kane has not been charged, but the investigation has shadowed the Stanley Cup champions for weeks as they prepare for a season that begins at home on Oct. 7.

“I cannot apologize enough for the distraction this has caused my family, teammates, this incredible organization and, of course, our fans,” Kane said. “While I have too much respect for the legal process to comment on an ongoing matter, I am confident once all the facts are brought to light I will be absolved of having done (anything) wrong.”

Chicago stops Fever in playoff opener

WNBA: Allie Quigley scored 20 points to help the Chicago Sky beat the visiting Indiana Fever 77-72 in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Courtney Vandersloot added 19 points and five assists for the second-seeded Sky in the best-of-three series. League MVP Elena Delle Donne, who was averaging a WNBA-best 23.4 points, had 14 points.

Tamika Catchings led the Fever with 21 points and Marissa Coleman added 16.

No. 11 Clemson outlasts Louisville

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Deshaun Watson threw two touchdown passes, Wayne Gallman ran for 139 yards and No. 11 Clemson (3-0) posted a 20-17 win over Louisville (0-3) in an ACC opener at Louisville, Kentucky.

Spain defeats France in Eurobasket semi

MISCELLANY: Pau Gasol overwhelmed title holder France, scoring 40 points in an 80-75 victory in overtime that put Spain into the final of the European basketball championship in Paris.

Spain, champion in 2009 and 2011, will play the winner of the semifinal between Serbia and Lithuania. The losing semifinalists also will take part in more Olympic qualifying, which will include Canada, while the two finalists earn direct slots at the Olympic tournament next year in Rio de Janeiro.

Lloyd has hat trick: Carli Lloyd added three more goals to her remarkable 2015 tally, leading the United States to another rout on its Women’s World Cup victory tour, 5-0 over Haiti in Detroit. Crystal Dunn added a goal and two assists, her first points for the national team. The U.S. extended its home unbeaten streak to 99 games.

U.S. beats Iran: The United States rallied from a set down to beat Iran 20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21 and remain in first place at the men’s volleyball World Cup in Japan.

Vitale makes donation: ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale and his wife have donated $1 million to the University of Notre Dame to provide financial assistance to undergraduate students with demonstrated need.

The Vitales developed a love for the university where their daughters attended and played on the tennis team.