Islanders select Chinese pioneer
The Islanders made history on Saturday by making Andong Song the first Chinese player to be selected in the NHL draft. Song, a 6-1 defenseman, was taken in the sixth round, 172nd overall.
Song, 18, got his start on improvised rinks growing up in Beijing before moving to Canada as a young boy. Last year he played for the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and will continue at Philips Academy in Andover, Mass., another top prep school. Last year, the Islanders took Josh HoSang of the Niagara IceDogs (OHL) in the first round. Sang is Jewish, his father is from Jamaica and grandfather is from Hong Kong. The only Chinese NHLer was RW Larry Kwong, who played one game for the Rangers in 1947-48. — Robert Ng
HARMAN TAKES LEAD
Brian Harman birdied the 18th hole for a 5-under 65 and a one-stroke lead over fellow Georgia lefthander Bubba Watson and Canadian Graham DeLaet in the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn.
Harman had a bogey-free round to take a 14-under 196 total into the final round at TPC River Highlands. Watson, two strokes ahead after the second round, shot a 68. DeLeat had a 64.
Bernhard Langer and Jeff Maggert shared the lead over a bunched field heading into the final round of the U.S. Senior Open in Sacramento, Calif. Langer shot a 2-under 68, and Maggert had a 70. They were at 5-under 205 for the championship at Del Paso, where conditions cooled off after consecutive days above 100 degrees.
But the competition remained hot, with eight players within a shot of the lead. That includes Tom Watson, Kenny Perry and defending champion Colin Montgomerie.
Watson, 65, who was tied with Maggert and Peter Fowler through 36 holes, salvaged a tough round with a 71. Perry shot a 64 to surge into contention, and Montgomerie had a 70.
Na Ye Choi matched her LPGA Tour career low with an 8-under 63 for a twoshot lead at 13-under in the NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Ark.
PIERCE OPTS OUT
Paul Pierce is opting out of the final year of his contract with the Wizards and will become a free agent Wednesday.
The ex-Net small forward signed a two-year deal with Washington last summer that included a reported $5.5 million player option for the 2015-16 season.
Pierce told The Player’s Tribune website of his decision, and the Wizards confirmed his move on Saturday.
BRADLEY HANGS ON FOR TITLE
Timothy Bradley got rocked in the final minute and survived a confusing finish to beat Jessie Vargas by unanimous decision, claiming the interim WBO welterweight title in Carson, Calif. Bradley (32-1-1) controlled most of his bout against the previously unbeaten Vargas, but the former two-division champion was hurt by a hard right that nearly knocked him down.
The fight went on as Bradley recovered somewhat, but referee Pat Russell apparently stopped the fight 10 seconds early, thinking the 10-second warning was the bell to end the bout. Bradley won 117-111, 116-112 and 115-112 on the scorecards, bouncing back from a winless 2014.