Molinari fires back at Bay Hill
British Open champion Francesco Molinari delivered another big moment on the 18th green at Bay Hill, using a 45-foot birdie putt to cap off an 8-under 64 to come from five shots behind Sunday to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Molinari watched the birdie putt kiss off the pin and into the cup, and the normally reserved Italian raised his fist and hammered it down in celebration, knowing that would make him hard to beat.
He started so far back that Molinari finished nearly two hours before the round ended. It gave him a two-shot lead at 12-under 276, and no one got closer than two shots the rest of the way.
“To do it here at Arnie’s place, knowing my wife and kids are watching from home, it’s very special,” Molinari said.
SUNS STUN WARRIORS
Devin Booker scored 13 straight Phoenix points during a decisive fourth-quarter stretch and finished with 37, and the Suns snapped the NBA’s longest active losing streak to one opponent at 18 games by beating the Golden State Warriors, 115111, on Sunday night in Oakland.
The Suns beat Golden State for the first time since a 107-95 victory on Nov. 9, 2014, and earned their first road win in 20 tries against the Western Conference this season.
Klay Thompson’s two free throws with 1:04 to go made it 111-108. Andre Iguodala secured a rebound after two missed Suns shots, but Stephen Curry missed on a 3 with 23 seconds left. Booker then converted two free throws.
Kevin Durant scored 25 points before leaving with a bruised right ankle midway through the fourth.
IONA REACHES MAAC FINAL
Asante Gist tied his season high with 22 points as
Iona got past Siena, 73-57, in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament semifinals in Albany.
Rickey McGill scored 18 points with six rebounds for Iona (16-15). E.J. Crawford added 16 points and eight rebounds. Tajuan Agee pulled down 13 rebounds for the visitors.
Evan Fisher scored 15 points for the Saints (17-16). Jalen Pickett added 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Kevin Degnan collected eight rebounds.
Iona will play Monmouth, which beat Canisius, 73-59, in the other semifinal.
● Justin Wright-Foreman scored 17 points to lead five Hofstra players in double figures as the Pride topped James Madison, 76-67, in the quarterfinals of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.
Jacquil Taylor added 16 points for the Pride. Jalen Ray chipped in 13, Eli Pemberton scored 13 and Desure Buie had 10. Taylor also pulled down 11 rebounds and five blocks for the Pride.
Matt Lewis scored 23 points for the Dukes (1419). Darius Banks added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Dwight Wilson had eight rebounds.