Kupcho takes 6-shot lead into final round at Mission Hills
RANCHO MIRAGE >> Jennifer Kupcho started fast and kept on going Saturday in The Chevron Championship to take a six-stroke lead into the last round ever at Mission Hills in the major championship.
Kupcho shot an 8-under 64 on anther hot and sunny afternoon in the Coachella Valley for a tournament-record 16-under 200 total.
Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit, playing alongside Kupcho in the second-to-last group, was second after a 70. The Thai player declined to comment after the round.
Kupcho moved into position to win for the first time on the LPGA Tour and take the last victory leap in Poppie's Pond.
The event that started in 1972 as the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle and became a major in 1983 is moving to Houston after failing to attract a sponsor willing to keep it at historypacked Mission Hills. FOUR SHARE TEXAS OPEN LEAD >> Brandt Snedeker and Beau Hossler each shot rounds of 5-under 67 to join J.J. Spaun and Dylan Frittelli atop the leaderboard after the third round of the Valero Texas Open.
Both Spaun, who shot 69, and Frittelli (70) bogeyed the last hole to finish with a share of the lead at 10-under 206.
Pro basketball
SIMMONS FILES GRIEVANCE AGAINST 76ERS >>
A league source confirmed that Ben Simmons has filed a grievance to recoup the nearly $20 million in salary the
Philadelphia 76ers withheld from him this season. ESPN was first to report the news.
The Sixers traded the disgruntled point guard to the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 10 along with Seth Curry and Andre Drummond and two first-round picks for James Harden and Paul Millsap.
That came after Simmons told the Sixers this summer that he wanted to be traded and wouldn't report to training camp.
Pro football
DOLPHINS WORK OUT DEAL WITH HOWARD >> The agent for Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard said that the Pro Bowler's record-setting extension with the team was the culmination of more than a year's worth of talks on the topic.
Howard and the Dolphins agreed on a five-year restructuring that includes nearly $51 million in new money. It came with about $39 million left on his existing contract, which had
to be reworked last summer as well after he requested a trade.
Howard didn't have any interceptions in his first 18 NFL games. He's had 27 interceptions in 54 games since, including a leaguehigh 10 in 2020.
DOLPHINS TRADE PARKER >> A trade of Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker this offseason was somewhat expected. For it to come within the division was a bit of a surprise.
The Dolphins agreed to trade Parker to the New England Patriots, along with a fifth-round pick in this month's draft, for a 2023 third-round pick, according to a league source.
Baseball
METS' SCHERZER INJURES HAMSTRING >> Mets ace Max Scherzer is dealing with a hamstring issue and isn't sure when he'll pitch next, another frustrating setback for the top of New York's heralded but suddenly fragile rotation.
A day after the Mets said star Jacob deGrom will miss significant time with a shoulder injury, Scherzer was scratched from his outing in a simulated game.
Just five days away from opening day in Washington, Scherzer said he wasn't sure about the immediate plans. The three-time Cy Young Award winner said he doesn't expect the trouble with his right hamstring to be a long-term problem.
ANGELS CUT UPTON >> The Los Angeles Angels have designated Justin Upton for assignment despite owing the slugging outfielder $19.5 million this season.
The Angels will still be responsible for Upton's salary unless he's claimed by another team, which seems unlikely. The 34-year-old Upton hit .211 with 17 homers, 41 RBIs and a .705 OPS over 89 games last season.
Upton is in the final season of a $106 million, fiveyear deal he signed to stay in Los Angeles a few months after being acquired from Detroit via trade during the 2017 season.
GUARDIANS AGREE WITH CLASE >> The Cleveland Guardians locked up one of their own, agreeing to terms with closer Emmanuel Clase on a $20 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Clase missed all of 2020 after being suspended for performance-enhancing drugs. However, he thrived in his first year as Cleveland's closer, recording 24 saves with a 1.29 ERA in 71 appearances as a rookie in 2021. Clase had 74 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings.