Another win for Atlanta United
ATLANTA — Hector Villalba and Jeff Larentowicz each scored, Brad Guzan had his second straight shutout, and Atlanta United FC beat the Montreal Impact 2-0 Sunday to extend its home unbeaten streak to 12 games. Atlanta (14-8-7) moved into third in the Eastern Conference, three points back of playoff-clinching New York City FC. Montreal (11-13-6) trails the New York Red Bulls by three points for the final playoff spot. Villalba opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a long-distance shot for his 12th goal of the season. Larentowicz scored his first goal for Atlanta in the 73rd by knocking in Julian Gressel’s cross. Gressel’s eighth assist of the season is the second most for a rookie in MLS history. Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush faced intense pressure for much of the match. On the offensive side, the Impact’s best scoring chance came in the 72nd minute on Michael
Salazar’s close-range shot on a breakaway, but Guzan stayed low to defend the near post.
GOLF
› PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Bernhard Langer pulled away with three straight birdies on the back nine at Pebble Beach Golf Links and cruised to a three-shot victory at the PURE Insurance Championship, his fifth victory of the season and the 34th of his PGA Tour Champions career. The German star had never won at the iconic seaside venue on the Monterey Peninsula. It was also his first win since turning 60 last month. He earned $300,000 to push his season earnings to near $3 million and extend his lead over Scott McCarron on the Charles Schwab Cup money list as he seeks his ninth money title in 10 seasons. Langer closed with a 67 for a three-day total of 198. Jerry Kelly closed with six straight pars for a 67 to finish alone in second, breaking Hale Irwin’s record from 1999 with his 14th consecutive round in the 60s. McCarron shot 68 to finish third.
› BEACHWOOD, Ohio — Nicholas Lindheim made a downhill birdie putt from about 30 feet on the first playoff hole after bogeying the final two holes in regulation and won the DAP Championship to regain his PGA Tour card. Lindheim shot a 1-over 71 to join Rob Oppenheim (67) and
Chesson Hadley (69) in the playoff after they all finished at 8-under 272 after 72 holes at Canterbury Golf Club. The event was the third of four Web.com Tour Finals events, which will determine 25 PGA Tour cards, and the good news for Lindenheim was that merely getting into the playoff was enough to earn his. Oppenheim also got his card back, while Hadley had already earned his PGA Tour card in the regular season. Former Baylor School standout Keith Mitchell (70) tied for sixth at 5 under and earned his card, while Athens, Tenn., native Eric Axley (69) wound up sharing 54th at 5 over. For more on Mitchell’s success, please see a story on page C6.
› VILAMOURA, Portugal — Lucas Bjerregaard secured his first European Tour victory with a four-shot win at the Portugal Masters, closing with a 6-under 65 to finish at 20-under 264 at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course. Marc Warren (67) was second, while Eddie Pepperell (68) and
Graeme Storm (67) tied for third, five shots out of the lead.
BASKETBALL
› MINNEAPOLIS — Chelsea Gray’s pull-up jumper with two seconds to play helped the Los Angeles Sparks avoid what would have been a stunning collapse and take Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, 85-84, over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. Gray scored a career-high 27 points and Candace Parker added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Sparks, who led 28-2 in the first quarter and 78-66 with five minutes to play, then gave it all back after a charge from the Lynx. Maya Moore scored 27 points and Sylvia Fowles had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Lynx.