SPORTSINBRIEF
Vice-President Mike Pence to attend Indy 500
Trio of 65s lead Colonial after opening round
FORT WORTH, Texas — Jon Rahm was at Colonial during tournament week each of the past two years to accept the Ben Hogan Award that goes to the nation’s top college golfer. This time, he’s playing in the PGA Tour event at Hogan’s Alley and among the leaders.
With his 4-under 66 on Thursday, Rahm was a stroke behind first-round leaders Kelly Kraft, Derek Fathauer and PGA Tour rookie J.T. Poston.
That also put Rahm ahead of two-time Colonial champs Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson after both birdied their last three holes for 67s. He also led 2016 winner Jordan Spieth, whose even-par round included six birdies.
“The last two times I was here, all I recorded was super happy and positive memories,” Rahm said. “It’s just the vibe that I have around this place is so positive, especially with Sergio (Garcia) winning and with the Ben Hogan history that I’m related to now.”
Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., was the low Canadian, firing a 69 to finish the round tied for 24th at 1-under par. Nick Taylor (70) of Abbotsford was tied for 34th at even par, Adam Hadwin (71) of Abbotsford was 1 over grouped at 47th, David Hearn (72) of Brantford, Ont., was 2 over to tie at 62nd, Jamie Sadlowski (73) of St. Paul, Alta., was in a tie for 75th at 3 over and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., was 5-over 75 to tie for 97th.
Lewis, Hsu tied for lead after first round in Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Wei-Ling Hsu holed out a 7-iron for an eagle on the very first hole she played, setting the tone for a terrific start.
At the end of the day, the unheralded golfer from Taiwan was tied atop the leaderboard with one of the LPGA Tour’s most successful players.
Hsu shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday and shared the lead with Stacy Lewis after the first round of the LPGA Volvik Championship. Hsu eagled two of her first five holes and was 6 under after six. She and Lewis finished a stroke ahead of 18-year-old Nelly Korda.
“I have a very tough year last year,” Hsu said. “I just want to improve more. This year I’m able to see my shot going to the hole, going to making the green in regulation more.”
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., was the low Canadian. She fired a 71 on the day to finish 1-over par and tied for 57th. Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherboroke, Que., was 1-over 73 to finish tied for 105th, Calgary’s Jennifer Ha was 4-over 76 for 136th and Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was tied for 141st after a 77.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials are making a security change after Vice-President Mike Pence confirmed he will attend Sunday’s race.
Pence, a former Indiana governor, confirmed Thursday that he would be returning to his home state to watch the race, which is part of a family tradition.
Gate 4 will be closed to pedestrian traffic and all non-essential vehicles starting today. That gate will remain closed for Saturday’s concert and the Indianapolis 500.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats sign former NFL DB Justin Rogers
HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed former NFL defensive back Justin Rogers to a contract on Thursday.
The 29-year-old native of Baton Rouge, La., played 39 games over five NFL seasons with Buffalo, Houston and Washington. He most recently played with the Redskins in 2015. Rogers had a plantar fascia tear in his right foot in the opening game and missed the rest of the season.
The Tiger-Cats also signed Canadian linebacker Marc-Antoine Laurin and defensive backs V’Angelo Bentley and Richard Leonard, the team said in a release.
MARINERS 4, NATIONALS 2
WASHINGTON — Nelson Cruz greeted reliever Jacob Turner with a go-ahead, three-run homer in the sixth inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Thursday to stop a five-game losing streak.
Gio Gonzalez took a 2-0 lead into the sixth, when Jean Segura singled leading off and Guillermo Heredia took a called third strike. That prompted Seattle manager Scott Servais to complain from the dugout, which led to his ejection.
Robinson Cano singled, and Washington manager Dusty Baker brought in Turner (2-3), despite Cruz having just one hit in 15 at-bats against Gonzalez. Cruz drove a belt-high slider over the fence in leftcentre for his 12th homer this season and a 3-2 lead. Cruz leads the AL with 40 RBIs.
Cano added an RBI single off Turner in the seventh as Seattle scored multiple runs for the first time since May 18.
Ariel Miranda (4-2) allowed two runs, three hits and three walks in five innings. Edwin Diaz, Seattle’s sixth pitcher, got his first save since May 9.