Lopez winner of marathon playoff

Having already battled for five extra holes into darkness without producing a champion a day earlier, Gaby Lopez and Nasa Hataoka showed up to work at 8 a.m. to determine the winner of the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Lopez rolled in a 30-foot putt for birdie to prevail on the seventh playoff hole Monday to capture her second LPGA title, earning $180,000.

When she won her first tournament 14 months ago, Lopez became only the second player from Mexico to win on tour, joining World Golf Hall of Fame member Lorena Ochoa.

The elite field featured 26 LPGA tournament champions who had won tournaments in the last two seasons. This was the LPGA’s fourth-longest playoff. the first to do that with three . ... A person familiar with the Cleveland Browns’ plans told the AP that they have interviewed Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton for their GM vacancy. ... Phil Snow is rejoining coach Matt Rhule in Carolina as the new Panthers defensive coordinator. Snow previously served as defensive coordinator under Rhule at Baylor and Temple. ... The Miami Dolphins announced the hiring of Chan Gailey as offensive coordinator, and promoted Josh Boyer to defensive coordinator.

Attorneys for Atlanta Hawks forward Chandler Parsons said he suffered “severe and permanent injuries” in a car wreck last week that could jeopardize his career. Parsons, who was leaving practice when he was hit by a drunk driver, suffered a traumatic brain injury, disk herniation and a torn labrum.