Kenseth grabs Richmond pole
Matt Kenseth won the pole position for tomorrow’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.
The 2003 series champion needed only four laps in three rounds of qualifying, outrunning final-round qualifiers like Joey Logano, who was fastest in each of the first two rounds, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who made it to the final round but will start 12th.
Ryan Blaney, driving for the Wood Brothers, will start second, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Logano.
Blixt-Smith show way
Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith posted a 10-under 62 in the four-ball
format to move into the lead at the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La.
In its first year of a new team format, Blixt and Smith have a two-day total of 15-under 129 to
lead by 1 shot over Patrick Reed and Patrick Cantlay. The K.J Choi-Charlie Wi and Troy Merritt-Robert Streb pairings are tied for third at 13-under. . . .
Haru Nomura shot a 6-under 65 for a two-round total of 133 and a 1-shot lead in the North Texas LPGA Shootout in Irving, Texas.
Ariya Jutanugarn is second following a 67 with Suzann Pettersen another shot behind. Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya’s older sister, is fourth at 136 along with two-time tournament winner Inbee Park and Marina Alex. ...
Pablo Larrazabal fired a 6 under 66 to sit at 14 under and take a 3-stroke lead halfway through the China Open in Beijing.
Dylan Frittelli had the lowest score of the day (63) and was tied for second at 11-under with overnight leader Alexander Levy, who shot a 70 in the second round.
Nadal, Murray stay course
Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray advanced together again, reaching the Barcelona Open semifinals in the same manner they have won all week: Nadal cruised and Murray labored.
Defending champion Nadal eased past Hyeon Chung 7-6 (1), 6-2, while Murray fought hard over three hours to beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4).
Murray will play fourth-seeded Dominic Thiem, who defeated lucky loser Yuichi Sugita 6-1, 6-2.
Nadal will play the semifinals against Horacio Zeballos, who didn’t drop a serve in beating Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-1. . . .
Maria Sharapova won again to move into the Porsche Grand Prix semifinals in Stuttgart, Germany, after beating Anett Kontaveit 16-3, 6-4.
The five-time Grand Slam champion will next face Kristina Mladenovic, who overcame Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2.
Last year’s runner-up and home favorite, Laura Siegemund, upset second-seeded Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3 in a match that lasted over three hours. The wild card next faces No. 4 seed Simona Halep, who beat Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-1. . . .
American cyclist Chad Young has a severe head injury following a crash at the Tour of the Gila, and his Axeon Hagens Berman team said he is not expected to recover.