Windy Bay Hill is no match for Kitayama

Kurt Kitayama is chasing his first PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a world-class group of contenders right behind him.

Kitayama should be used to that.

Last year alone, he fell one shot sort of Jon Rahm in Mexico, Xander Schauffele in Scotland and Rory Mcilroy in South Carolina.

Kitayama handled the wind that only made Bay Hill tougher, posting a 4-under 68 for a two-shot lead over Jordan Spieth, a three-time major champion and former No. 1 player in the world.

“Right now I feel like I’m just trying to get that win,” Kitayama said. “It’s tough, especially with the guys I’ve been against. So I’ve just got to keep putting myself in that position to give myself a chance.”

Rahm finally looked human. His final five holes included a double bogey, three bogeys and a birdie. He shot 76, his highest score since a 76 in the third round of the PGA Championship last May, and fell six shots behind.

Auto racing: Formula One great Lewis Hamilton has been cleared to race for Mercedes at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after having his jewelry inspected. Hamilton clashed with governing body FIA last year over its jewelry ban put in place for safety.

College basketball: Detroit Mercy’s star guard Antoine Davis finished four points shy of surpassing Pete Maravich as the NCAA career scoring leader on Thursday night, scoring 22 in a loss to Youngstown State in the Horizon League tournament.

NHL: Coyotes and Flames completed the first deal in the league’s history that involved one brother being traded for another. The Flames got Nick Ritchie and defenseman Troy Stecher from the rebuilding Coyotes for Brett Ritchie and minor-leaguer Connor Mackey.

Soccer: French prosecutors say Paris Saint-germain defender Achraf Hakimi was given preliminary charges of rape.