Day takes a 2-stroke lead at Wells Fargo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jason Day sputtered at the start and finally hit his stride for a 4-underpar 67 to build a two-shot lead going into the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship and a chance for his second victory this year.
Peter Uihlein, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy all showed early Saturday that it was a softer, gentler Quail Hollow under an overcast sky. Uihlein had a 62, one off the course record, and finished before the leaders began the third round. He remained atop the leader board until midday through the round.
Mickelson had a 64, his lowest score of the season. McIlroy had to settle for a 66.
Day, who is at 10-under 203, blasted a 9-iron out of the left rough with the wind at his back from 195 yards to within 18 inches on No. 9 for his first birdie, and he was on his way. He had five birdies over the last 10 holes, and he made a daring par on the 18th. With his bare feet in the stream and the ball on the bank well above his feet, he hit a full shot to the back of the green for a two-putt par.
Nick Watney overcame a double bogey on the par-5 10th hole with four birdies over his last six holes for a 66.
Tiger Woods had a three-putt bogey on the final hole for a 68 that left him nine shots behind.
Peter Malnati's 36hole lead didn't last long. He had a pair of double bogeys, shot 75 and fell seven shots back. In other golf news:
Sung Hyun Park and Jenny Shin finished the rain-delayed first round of the abbreviated LPGA Texas Classic at The Colony with 6-under 65s to share a one-stroke lead. After Thursday's play was canceled and Friday's began after an 8½-hour rain delay, the tournament was reduced from 72 holes to 36. There will be no cut, but only the top 70 and ties in the 144-woman field will win prize money. The second round began Saturday afternoon before the first round ended. Park and Shin were scheduled to start their final rounds Sunday afternoon.
SOCCER Dash notch 1st win of season
Veronica Latsko’s goal in the 79th minute helped the Dash defeat Sky Blue FC 3-2 at Piscataway, N.J., for their first National Women’s Soccer League victory of the season.
Nichelle Prince scored the Dash’s first goal since opening day in the 24th minute. The Dash’s second goal came in the 60th minute when forward Rachel Daly sent a cross into the box that was mishandled by Sky Blue goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, allowing the ball to fall into the net for an own goal. In other news:
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was in intensive care after emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage. Ferguson, 76, retired from United ain 2013 after almost 27 years in charge.
Stoke lost to Crystal Palace 2-1 and became the first English Premier League team relegated this season after a 10-year stay. The 19th-placed Potters went into their penultimate game of the season desperate to boost their survival hopes with what would have been a first victory in 13 matches.
Lokomotiv Moscow beat Zenit St. Petersburg 1-0 to win the Russian Premier League for the first time in 14 years.
MOTOR SPORTS Allgaier hits Xfinity jackpot
Justin Allgaier won a $100,000 bonus by holding off teammate Elliott Sadler in a door-to-door race through the final turn at Dover International Speedway to win the Xfinity Series race.
Sadler used lapped traffic to set up his attempt to snatch the lead from Allgaier and played it perfectly as he pulled alongside Allgaier. The two Chevrolets touched, and Allgaier wiggled but held on for the victory.
PRO BASKETBALL Spurs’ Hammon on Bucks’ list
San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon will interview for the Milwaukee Bucks' coaching job, a person familiar with the search told the Associated Press.
Hammon is the first full-time female assistant in the league.
Hammon just finished her fourth season as an assistant with the Spurs. She served as coach of the Spurs' Las Vegas Summer League entry in 2015 and 2016. Hammon retired after the 2014 WNBA season following a 16-year playing career.
Interim coach Joe Prunty is also expected to interview for the job after the former assistant led the team to a 21-16 record following Jason Kidd's firing in late January.
HOCKEY Americans earn 2nd win at worlds
The United States dominated host Denmark 4-0 for its second consecutive victory at the world ice hockey championship at Herning, Denmark.
Will Butcher and Chris Kreider each had a goal and an assist for the Americans, who upset Canada 5-4 on Friday.
BASEBALL Skeeters suffer first defeat
Derek Norris’ tworun single in the ninth inning made it close, but the Skeeters came up short in a 7-6 loss to Somerset 7-6 in Atlantic League play at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.
It was the first loss of the season for new manager Pete Incaviglia and the Skeeters (7-1).