Straka holds off Mickelson in Napa for first-round lead
Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan scored two goals apiece to lead the United States women’s national team past Mexico 6- 0 on Thursday night in the group stage opener for both teams at the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament in Cary, North Carolina.
Julie Ertz also scored for the U. S. as the Americans erupted for five goals in the second half to extend its unbeaten streak to 22 matches.
Mexico, ranked No. 24 in the world, was held without a shot until the 48thminute.
The United States is the reigning World Cup champion. The team is in Group A for the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, an eight- team tournament that decides the region’s three spots in the World Cup next year in France. A fourth team will earn the right to a playoff against Argentina.
Golf
MICKELSON HAS BIRDIE RUN AT SILVERADO » Phil Mick- elson had six straight birdies and shot a 7-under 65 to pull within two strokes of leader Sepp Straka in the PGA Tour’s season-opening Safeway Open. The 48-yearold Mickelson birdied Nos. 9-14 and closed with four straight pars on the North Course at Napa’s Silverado Resort.
Straka birdied the final three holes for a 63. The Austrian played alongside Mark Mulder, the former major league pitcher who opened with a 75. Brandt Snedeker, Alex Prugh, J.T. Poston, Mackenzie Hughes, Sam Saunders, Sungjae Im and Adam Long shot 66. Two-time defending champion Brendan Steele had a 67. HATTON HITS SPECTATOR ON HEAD AT DUNHILL LINKS » Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton bounced back from a poor start, including a wayward tee shot that struck a spectator on the head, to shoot a 2-under 70 and move within two strokes of the first-round lead at the Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland.
A female fan was pictured bleeding from a head wound after being hit by a drive from Hatton on the 15th hole at Kingsbarns, one of three courses staging the event.
The English golfer spoke to her when she returned to her feet after receiving treatment, and shewas later seen walking to a golf cart and smiling as she was taken to an on-site medical center. Marcus Fraser of Australia and Matt Wallace of England shot 68s at Carnoustie and St. Andrews, respectively. AMERICANS SPLIT TEAM COMPETITION » The United States had a mixed start on the opening day of the UL International Crown team golf tournament in Incheon, South Korea, splitting the fourballs against Sweden, while favorite South Korea collected a maximum four points with two wins over Taiwan.
After three days of fourballs, the top two teams from each pool and one wild-card team progress to the singles event with the team collecting the most points over the four days taking the title. Teams get two points for a win and one if the match is halved.
Due to fears that Typhoon Kong-rey could hit the Korean peninsula this weekend, organizers hoped to complete two rounds today in an attempt to finish the tournament Saturday.
NBA
IRVING WANTS TO STAY IN BOSTON » Point guard Kyrie Irving says he intends to re-sign with the Celtics next summer. At a fan event at TD Garden, Irving told the crowd, “If you guys will have me back, I plan on resigning here.”
Irving signed a fiveyear, $ 94 million deal with Cleveland prior to the 2015-16 season but asked for a trade last summer. He has a player option for next season and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2020. Despite injuries to Irving and Gordon Hayward, the Celtics finished with 55 wins last season before losing to the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
College basketball
FATHER TESTIFIES ON PAY FOR PLAY » The father of a top college basketball prospect has testified that his son was offered thousands of dollars to play at several major programs. Brian Bowen Sr. testified at a federal trial in New York that aspiring agent Christian Dawkins told him he could get $50,000 to play at the University of Arizona, $150,000 to go to Oklahoma State or $80,000 to go to Creighton. Bowen was testifying at the New York City trial of Dawkins and two other defendants accused of making secret payments to recruits’ families.
Soccer
RONALDO LEFT OFF NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER » Cristiano Ronaldo was left off Portugal’s national team squad for two upcoming matches, the decision coming as the soccer great fights rape allegations in the United States.
Ronaldo has been accused of rape by Kathryn Mayorga, who says the player assaulted her in Las Vegas in 2009. He has denied the accusation. Ronaldo was left off the squad for Portugal’s second game in the UEFA Nations League at Poland on Oct. 11 and a friendly match in Glasgow against Scotland three days later.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos said Ronaldo also will not be called up for the next round of international games in November.
Tennis
OSAKA STAYS ON A ROLL » Naomi Osaka maintained her strong form since winning the U.S. Open by reaching the China Open quarterfinals by crushing Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-2. Osaka made a slow start, saving a break point and enduring five deuces in the eightminute first game. But she broke Goerges’ serve in the next game and raced to 5- 0. Osaka won four consecutive points on Goerges’ serve to open the second set and rolled on. Caroline Wozniacki beat Anett Kontaveit 7-5, 6- 4 and qualified for the WTA Finals.