ENGLISH, KUCHAR WIN SHOOTOUT BY A SINGLE STROKE
naples, fla.» Harris English and Matt Kuchar won the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Saturday, holding off Wisconsin friends Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly by one stroke.
English and Kuchar also won in 2013, their first start together, and finished second the past two years. They closed with a 7-under-par 65 in better-ball play to finish at 28-under. Stricker and Kelly also shot a 65. Charley Hoffman and Billy Horschel were third at 26-under after closing with a sizzling 61.
Lexi Thompson and Bryson DeChambeau tied for last at 16-under after a 67. Thompson became the second woman to compete in the event, following Annika Sorenstam with Fred Couples in 2006.
English and Kuchar each earned $385,000. They opened with a jawdropping 57 on Thursday in the scramble round and had a 66 on Friday in modified alternate shot.
• Sam Brazel of Australia shot a 3-under 67 in the third round of the Hong Kong Open to share the lead with Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain.
Cabrera Bello lost his three-stroke lead at the Hong Kong Golf Club after four bogeys and a double bogey. He recovered with birdies on No. 15 and No. 17 for a par-70 round — and 11under 199 for the tournament.
• David Duval and stepson Nick Karavites shot an 11-under 61 to take the first-round lead in the PNC Father/Son Challenge.
Fan favorites John and Little John Daly shot a 64.
2 deaths in China half marathon B
beijing» Two runners died after collapsing during a half marathon in southern China, event organizers announced Saturday.
One runner suffered sudden heart failure 2.8 miles from the finish of the Xiamen International Half Marathon in the coastal city of the same name. A second runner died after crossing the finish line. Both were taken to a hospital, where they were declared dead.
Chinese swimmer now banned B
lausanne, switzerland» FINA, swimming’s governing body, said Chen Xinyi of China has been suspended two years from competition after testing positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics this year.
Chen, who was a gold medalist on China’s 4x100-meter medley relay team at the Kazan, Russia, world championships in 2015, had already been suspended from competition by the Court of Arbitration for Sport during the Rio Games after the positive test.
FINA said in a statement that the 18-year-old Chen’s ban will end Aug. 10, 2018.
Ex-Baylor QB headed to Auburn.
Former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham will transfer to Auburn.
Stidham, ESPN’s No. 1-ranked junior college recruit, sat out this season after transferring out of Baylor in July and will be eligible to play in 2017 for the Tigers.
Stidham chose Auburn after taking multiple visits to the SEC school this fall and hosting coach Gus Malzahn for an in-home visit Friday. He also considered Florida and Texas A&M during his recruitment.
Stidham threw for 1,265 yards and 12 touchdowns and started three games as a true freshman for Baylor in 2015. He left the Big 12 school this past summer after the firing of coach Art Briles and chose to sit out the 2016 season and take online courses through McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, while training for his next opportunity.
Cincinnati hires Fickell as coach.
The Cincinnati Bearcats hired Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell as their head football coach.
Fickell and Cincinnati reached agreement on a six-year deal. The contract is pending approval from Cincinnati’s board of trustees during a meeting Sunday.