Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Off the wire
GOLF Grace victorious
Branden Grace’s 30-foot putt for birdie on No. 16 set up his oneshot victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Sunday, giving South Africa a home winner at Sun City for the first time in a decade. Grace, whose putting had let him down for most of the day, sent his long putt at the par 3 rolling in to edge ahead of playing partner Scott Jamieson. After that decisive birdie, Grace made par on the final two holes for a 66 to finish 11-under par overall, one clear of Jamieson (70). Victor Dubuisson, also part of the final group, finished another shot back in third after a bogey on No. 15 dropped him behind Grace and Jamieson.
Kizzire wins 1st title
Patton Kizzire has won his first PGA Tour title by beating Rickie Fowler over 36 holes on the final day of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. Kizzire closed with rounds of 66-67 on Sunday for a one-shot victory over Fowler, who fell four shots behind until putting together a rally that came too late at El Camaleon Golf Club. Fowler had rounds of 67-67 in the rain-delayed event in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Kizzire finished at 19-under 265. He seized control on the 17th hole of the third round with a two-shot swing — Kizzire made birdie, Fowler made bogey — to take a one-shot lead into the final round. Fowler fell three shots behind quickly and never caught up. The victory sends Kizzire to the Masters for the first time. Austin Cook (Jonesboro, Arkansas Razorbacks) finished with a 3-under 281. Ethan Tracy (Razorbacks) had a 2-under 282. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) was even at 284.
Feng headed for No. 1
Shanshan Feng shot a 2-under 70 in the final round to win the Blue Bay LPGA at Hainan, China, by one stroke. With the victory, Feng is projected to become the first topranked golfer — male or female — from China. Feng, who won last week in Japan, became the first back-to-back winner of 2017. Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn (70) was second at 8 under, just one shot behind Feng after narrowly missing a birdie attempt on the 72nd hole. Current top-ranked Sung Hyun Park (72), Ashleigh Buhai (73) and American duo Jessica Korda (71) and Megan Khang (68) all tied for third. Gaby Lopez (Arkansas Razorbacks) finished with a 4-over 292.
Sutherland wins Cup
Kevin Sutherland finally broke through on the PGA Tour Champions, taking the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship — and the topping the yearlong competition, too. Sutherland closed a 5-under 66 on Sunday for a one-stroke victory over Vijay Singh at Phoenix Country Club, the tree-lined course hosting its first tour event since the Phoenix Open left for TPC Scottsdale in 1988. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks), who shot a 65, David Frost (67), David Toms (67) and Lee Janzen (67) all tied
for third at 13 under. Bernhard Langer, the winner of the first two playoff events, had a 64 to tie for 12th — five strokes back. Langer slipped to second in the season standings, missing a chance to win the title for the fourth consecutive year and fifth overall. Glen Day (Little Rock) finished with a 9-under 204.
TENNIS U.S. takes Fed Cup
The United States won its 18th Fed Cup title and the first since 2000 with a 3-2 victory over Belarus on Sunday. CoCo Vandeweghe and Shelby Rogers beat Aryna Sabalenka and Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the deciding doubles of the 2017 final. Sasnovich had kept Belarus alive after beating U.S. Open champion
Sloane Stephens 4-6, 6-1, 8-6 to leave the final even at 2-2. Vandeweghe earlier beat Sabalenka 7-6 (5), 6-1 to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead. The U.S. holds the most Fed Cup titles in the international team competition.
Federer wins opener
One break of serve, and a minibreak, was all Roger Federer needed to win his opening match at the season-ending ATP Finals in London on Sunday. The 19-time Grand Slam champion broke Jack Sock in the first game of the 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory at the O2 Arena. Both then held serve the rest of the way. Federer, 36, who is ranked No. 2 in the world and won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this season, is the oldest player ever to qualify for the season-ending tournament, which started in 1970.