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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Digest: Miguel Angel Jimenez takes U.S. Senior Open lead

Miguel Angel Jimenez tees off at the 2016 U.S. Senior Open. Jimenez came from behind to defeat Gene Sauers in a playoff at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. (Tyler Stabile / Associated Press)
From staff and wire reports

Golf: Miguel Angel Jimenez was back on top on a Saturday, this time in the U.S. Senior Open at difficult Scioto County Club in Upper Arlington, Ohio. The 52-year-old Spanish player was looking for a better late Sunday afternoon result after missing chances in his last two events.

Jimenez put himself in position to break out of the title funk Saturday, finishing off a 1-under 69 in gusty wind and sheets of rain to take a one-stroke lead. He was in a lot better shape in Scotland and Minnesota in the last two tournaments – and came up empty.

Three weeks ago at Carnoustie in the Senior British Open, Jimenez took a four-stroke lead into the last day, only to shoot 75 and tie for third – three strokes behind winner Paul Broadhurst. Last week in the 3M Championship, Jimenez was a stroke ahead entering the final round and ended up losing when Joe Durant shot 63 and eagled the first hole of a playoff.

“Just keep playing golf and give myself patience. That’s the main thing,” Jimenez said. “Whatever happens, happens. Obviously, at the Open in Scotland, I lost that tournament there without playing bad, and here tomorrow we have to play 18 holes, and whatever happens happens. Just keep focused and enjoy yourself. That’s the main thing.”

Jimenez won in Mississippi in March for his third career PGA Tour Champions victory. He has 15 regular European Tour victories, the last in the 2014 Spanish Open at a tour-record 50 years, 133 days. And “The Mechanic” is famous for the quirky, fun-loving ways that have prompted some to call him “The Most Interesting Man in the World.”

“Of course, you have to enjoy yourself, and I enjoy myself,” Jimenez said. “You look at my office, no? It’s a great life, no? That’s what I want to do in my life is play golf. I will do what I want to do in my life for a living, and golf is not my job. It’s also my hobby. Of course, when I finish here, I’m going to have a big fat cigar with a nice glass of wine and enjoy my wife and my family and my people who are here.”

Jimenez had a 3-under 207 total on Jack Nicklaus’ boyhood course. Gene Sauers was second after a 71. Ian Woosnam (70), Loren Roberts (70) and senior newcomer Billy Mayfair (75) were tied for third at 1 over.

Jimenez was one of just four players who were below par for the day. Three strokes behind Joey Sindelar entering the round, Jimenez had four birdies and three bogeys, with the three bogeys coming in a four-hole stretch. After making two birdies on the front nine, he birdied the 12th, bogeyed 13 and 14, birdie 15, bogeyed 16 and finished with two pars just as sheets of driving rain rolled in on top of the suffocating heat and humidity that has worn down the players all week.

Tacoma’s Moore leads John Deere: Ryan Moore shot two more rounds of 6-under 65 to take the third-round lead in the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, finishing at 8:25 p.m. in nearly dark conditions. After opening Thursday with a 65, the Tacoma native never got on the course Friday in the tournament that finally got back on schedule Saturday when the players raced to finish before dark.

Play was delayed 3 1/2 hours Thursday when an inch of rain fell, then the start was delayed five hours Friday after an overnight storm dumped another 2.4 inches on the soaked course.

Morgan Hoffman and Ben Martin each shot 62 to pull within a stroke at 17 under.

The 33-year-old Moore has four PGA Tour victories, winning the CIMB Classic in 2013 and 2014. He was third in March in the Valspar Championship and has five top-10 finishes this season.

In the third round, Moore birdied the par-4 14th, hitting a 60-yard approach to a foot, and made a 6-foot birdie putt on par-3 16th. He parred the final two holes, putting out on the par-4 18th with a large scoreboard providing just enough light to see.

Wright-Phillips scores twice in Red Bulls’ win

Soccer: Bradley Wright-Phillips scored two goals to become the New York Red Bulls’ career leader and Sach Kljestan tied the club record for assists in a season in a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Impact in Harrison, New Jersey.

Sean Davis had two assists in the first half and a goal in the opening minute of the second to help the Red Bulls (10-9-6) extend their unbeaten streak to seven games.

Montreal (8-6-9), which entered the game tied with New York for third in the Eastern Conference, took a 1-0 lead on Ignacio Piatti’s 13th goal of the season on a counter-attack in the 21st minute. But the Red Bulls answered in the next minute when Davis and Kljestan set up Wright Phillips. It was Kljestan’s league-leading 14th assist.

United blank Timbers: Steve Birnbaum and Luciano Acosta scored first-half goals and D.C. United beat the Portland Timbers 2-0 at RFK Stadium in Washington.

Birnbaum’s second goal of the season put D.C. on the board in the seventh minute. Bobby Boswell reached Lloyd Sam’s corner and headed it to foot of Birnbaum inside the box for his second goal in a week.

Portland (8-9-8) holds the final qualification spot in the Western Conference, a point up on San Jose, which has two games in hand. Despite a big advantage in possession time, Portland managed just six shots and only put two on target.

Philadelphia snaps losing streak: Chris Pontius had a goal and an assist in the second half to help the Philadelphia Union beat the New England Revolution 4-0 Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Philadelphia (9-8-7) snapped a four-game winless stretch and won on the road for the first time in 10 matches. New England (6-10-8) has given up 11 goals during its three-game losing streak.

Own-goal helps City beat Sunderland: Manchester City needed a late own-goal to beat Sunderland 2-1 in Manchester, England, as Pep Guardiola’s management career in the Premier League got off to a labored start.

The bookmakers’ favorite for the title, City dominated possession and was leading after just four minutes when Sergio Aguero scored from the penalty spot. But there was no goal rush in its wake as a Sunderland side under new manager David Moyes defended with determination and discipline at Etihad Stadium.

Sunderland’s reward came in the 71st when Jermain Defoe latched on to a through-ball to score the equalizer.

But there was a sting in the tail for the visitors in the 87th when a deflected cross by Jesus Navas struck Sunderland’s Paddy McNair on the head and the ball flew into his own net.

Guardiola punched the air with satisfaction at the final whistle. The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach could hardly have created bigger shockwaves by leaving out Joe Hart in a move certain to increase speculation over the England goalkeeper’s future, while one-time team lynchpin Yaya Toure did not even make the squad.

Seminoles’ Francois likely to start at QB

Miscellany: Florida State quarterback Sean Maguire has a broken bone in his right foot, putting freshman Deondre Francois in position to open the season as the starter.

Coach Jimbo Fisher revealed the injury Saturday after the team’s practice, saying Maguire broke the bone Wednesday. The injury wasn’t known until Friday when the senior felt discomfort toward the end of practice.

Maguire is in a walking boot and Fisher said a screw will be inserted into the foot Monday. Fisher also said it is likely that the6-foot-3, 232-pound senior would miss 3-4 weeks and could be ready to return by the Seminoles’ second game against Charleston Southern on Sept. 10. Florida State opens the season Sept. 5 in Orlando against Mississippi.

Mejia’s hit streak at 50 after scoring change: Cleveland minor leaguer Francisco Mejia’s hitting streak reached 50 games – more than an hour after the game ended.

Mejia’s streak survived when the official scorer changed a ruling on an error from the third inning of Class A Lynchburg’s 7-5 loss in Lynchburg, Virginia, in the Carolina League. Mejia reached and advanced to second on Winston-Salem third baseman Gerson Montilla’s error. The scorer changed the play to a double hours later after reviewing video and conferring with the teams.

The 20-year-old switch-hitting catcher was 0 for 4 when he drew a full-count walk with two outs in the ninth and the Hillcats trailing 5-4, apparently ending his streak. Mejia’s string is the longest ever in pro ball by a catcher, surpassing Harry Chozen’s 49-game streak in the Southern Association in 1954.

The professional hitting streak record is 69 games by Joe Wilhoit of the Western League in 1919.

Mondialiste wins Arlington Million: Irish-bred Mondialiste won the Grade 1 Arlington Million in Arlington Heights, Illinois, earning a berth into the Breeders’ Cup when jockey Daniel Tudhope guided the 6-year-old through a three-wide finish to edge Kasaqui by a neck.

Mondialiste, who went off at 4-1, broke from the outside in the 1 1/4-mile turf race.

The son of Galileo paid $10.80, $6.40 and $4.80. Kasaqui of Argentina returned $13.20 and $9.40 and Irish-bred Deauville paid $7 to show despite a poor outside draw.