Breezes to victory at Sonoma
Kevin Harvick returned to victory lane for the first time this season with a dominating run Sunday on the road course at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. The former NASCAR champion came to Sonoma winless in 20 races since Kansas last fall and has been overshadowed in this season of NASCAR’s young new superstars.
It was the first win on the winding wine country road course in 17 tries for the Bakersfield, Calif., driver. Sonoma was one of just four active tracks where Harvick had never be- fore scored a Cup victory. The race ended under caution after Kasey Kahne had a hard accident on the final lap. Harvick had a cozy 9-second lead over Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer before the caution. Bowyer was second and Brad Keselowski third as Ford cars went 1-2-3. Sergio Garcia missed a playoff by one shot at the BMW International Open in Munich as Andres Romero picked up seven shots in his last 10 holes to win by one. The Argentine carded a bogey-free round of 65 to sign off at 17-under 271, one better than Thomas Detry (66) and overnight leaders Garcia (69) and Richard Bland (69). Garcia’s hopes took a hit with his second bogey on the 16th hole, while Bland had his second bogey on the 17th. Both ended with birdies but it wasn’t enough to catch Romero
l So Yeon Ryu became the LPGA Tour’s first two-time winner this season, taking the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship with a tournament-record 18-under 195 total. Five strokes ahead after a course-record 10-under 61 on Saturday, the thirdranked Ryu closed with a 69 for a two-shot victory over fellow South Korean player Amy Yang (64) and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn (66). Ryu has five LPGA Tour victories, also winning the major ANA Inspiration in April in a playoff with Lexi Thompson. Local favorite Stacy Lewis (69) and Michelle Wie (64) tied for fourth at 13 under.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beat Australian Ashleigh Barty, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the Aegon Classic final in Birmingham, England, a Wimbledon prep, to win her first title since her playing hand — left — was injured in a knife attack at her home. Kvitova was playing only her second tournament and seventh match since she was attacked in December.
“It’s hard to say anything but I think I’ve been through a very difficult time in my life, and it wasn’t about the tennis, but about coming back healthy and alive and moving my fingers properly and everything like that,” Kvitova said. “This is something clearly special. It’s some bonus to have in my life and my career and everything.” It was the Czech lefty’s first grass-court final since her triumph at 2014 Wimbledon and her 20th career title in her 27th final.