Munoz picks up where he left off, shares lead in Mississippi
JACKSON,MISS.» Defending champion Sebastian Munoz found happy memories Thursday at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Munoz nearly holed a wedge on his opening hole as part of his fast start, ran in four straight birdies on the back nine and wound up with an 8-under 64 to share of the lead with Jimmy Walker, Kevin Chappell and Charley Hoffman.
The Country Club of Jackson was soft from recent downpours, though the greens were running fast and true, contributing to the good scoring. Sixteen players were at 67 or better. “I don’t know, the energy of this place, I really like it,” Munoz said. “I just kind of thrive on it.”
The Colombian figured there were good scores to be had when he saw Walker and Hoffman at 64 before he teed off, with plenty of other low scores right behind them. His only bogey came on the ninth hole when his drive landed in a divot and he missed the green to the left.
Hoffman made nine birdies in his round of 64.
Stephenson, Lee in front
GALLOWAY, N.J. » Lauren Stephenson holed out from the rough from 137 yards for eagle on the par-4 14th and shot an 8-under 63 Thursday for a share of the Shoprite LPGA Classic lead with Mi Hyang Lee.
Stephenson, the 23-year-old former Clemson and Alabama player in her second season on the LPGA Tour, birdied four of the first five holes and finished the morning round on Seaview’s Bay Course with eight birdies and two bogeys.
“It was a beautiful day out,” Stephenson said. “The weather was amazing and the golf was really good on top of that. I got some good lucky shots out there, but
I also played some good golf. It was really nice to see kind of hard work paying off.”
Lee, the 27-year-old South Korean player who won the last of her two LPGA Tour titles in 2017, birdied the final two holes in a bogey-free afternoon round.
“Was really good start for me,” Lee said. “I really look forward to he next three rounds. Just want to keep doing my best. Today everything was good.”
Ryann O’Toole and Nasa Hataoka were a stroke back.
American cyclist suspended by team after pro-Trump comments
GENEVA » American cyclist Quinn Simmons was suspended by the TrekSegafredo team after posting antagonistic comments on social media in support of President Donald Trump.
The 2019 junior road race world champion replied to a journalist from the Netherlands who had criticized Trump on Twitter.
“Regrettably, team rider Quinn Simmons made statements online that we feel are divisive, incendiary, and detrimental to the team, professional cycling, its fans, and the positive future we hope to help create for the sport,” Trek-Segafredo said in a statement. “(He) will not be racing for Trek-Segafredo until further notice.”
The 19-year-old rider reacted Wednesday when Dutch journalist José Been posted on Twitter that she hoped for her American friends that “this horrible presidency ends for you,” adding “if you follow me and support Trump, you can go.”
Simmons replied by writing “Bye” with an emoji of a dark-skinned hand waving.
When a separate account replied “Apparently a Trumper,” Simmons countered “That’s right” with a United States flag symbol.