Bramlett and Horschel tied for Honda Classic lead
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Billy Horschel has never won a PGA Tour event in his home state of Florida. His quest to change that is off to a fine start.
Horschel shot a 5-under 65 on Thursday, tying him with St. Francis and Stanford alum Joseph Bramlett for the firstround lead in the Honda Classic at PGA National. Bramlett had a bogey-free round; Horschel had six birdies and one bogey.
“Just played really solid,” Horschel said. “Didn’t do anything special. Hit some quality iron shots here and there. I wouldn’t say everything was sort of automatic and it was easy. I had to just sort of work my way into making some good swings here and there.”
Bramlett scrambled nicely when he had to. He missed six of 14 fairways and hit 13 of 18 greens.
“I definitely like when the conditions are difficult and guys have to really earn it,” said Bramlett, who has never won on the PGA Tour. “I think that’s historically always been in my favor.”
In the LPGA Thailand Open, Jennifer Kupcho of the United States fired a bogey-free 7-under 65 to share the lead alongside four other golfers after the opening round at Pattaya, Thailand.
With her in the lead were 2014 champion Anna Nordquist of Sweden, Nasa Hataoko of Japan, local hope Jaravee Boonchant and Lin Xiyu of China.
In other golf news, Jan Stephenson, a three-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The 71year-old Australian will begin a treatment of chemotherapy and radiation for stage 3 cancer in the next two weeks.
ELSEWHERE Broncos hire Joseph for coordinator job
A person with knowledge of the hiring said Sean Payton is bringing back ex-Broncos head coach Vance Joseph to Denver to serve as his defensive coordinator.
Joseph coached the Broncos in 2017 and 2018, compiling an 1121 record. He spent the past four seasons as the Arizona Cardinals’ defensive coordinator.
In Los Angeles, the Rams and linebacker Bobby Wagner are parting ways.
The 32-year-old Wagner was outstanding in his only season with his hometown Rams, who signed him as a free agent last March after a decade with the Seahawks. He started all 17 games at middle linebacker and made 140 tackles with six sacks.
NBA: Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists for his latest triple-double, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 115-109 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
MLB: Noah Song threw and performed agility drills Thursday on a back outfield wearing Philadelphia Phillies shorts and a T-shirt, a far different different uniform for the 25-year old.
Song had been a flight officer training on a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft before transferring from active duty to the reserves.
In Fort Myers, Fla., infielder Donovan Solano finalized a oneyear, $2 million contract with the Minnesota Twins.