NCAA PENALIZES BYU FOR PLAYER RECEIVING IMPROPER BENEFITS
» The BYU men’s basketPROVO, UTAH ball program was placed on probation for two years and must vacate 47 wins under sanctions imposed Friday by the NCAA in an improper-benefits case involving guard Nick Emery.
The NCAA said the player received more than $12,000 in benefits from four boosters, including travel to concerts and an amusement park and the use of a new car. The NCAA also accepted the university’s self-imposed penalties of reducing one scholarship, disassociation of one of its boosters and a $5,000 fine.
BYU said in a statement that the university, the coaching staff and the athletic department had no knowledge of the infractions and that they disagreed with vacating wins. The NCAA didn’t identify Emery by name but the university’s statement said the case involved him.
The university also said that it plans to appeal the decision because it considers the vacating of wins to be too harsh and not consistent with recent cases.
Kuchar builds a 2-shot lead at Mayakoba Classic.
PLAYA DEL
MEXICO» Matt Kuchar knew CARMEN, he was in trouble when his tee shot sailed so far to the right that he hit a provisional in case the ball was outof-bounds.
He found the ball, and somehow never lost the lead.
Kuchar escaped his only big mess Friday with a 35-foot bogey putt on the 12th hole, and he rode eight birdies to a 7-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead over PGA Tour rookie Cameron Champ going into the weekend at the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
Champ, going after his second victory in three weeks, played in the morning and shot 62 with a bogey on his final hole.
Kuchar was at 14-under 128 as he tries to end more than four years without a PGA Tour victory.
Goydos leads Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
PHOENIX» Paul Goydos birdied the par-5 18th for a 6-under 65 and a one-stroke lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Tied for the first-round lead with Tim Petrovic after a 63, Goydos had six birdies in the bogey-free round in warm, sunny conditions at Phoenix Country Club. He won the 2016 event at Desert Mountain.
Scott McCarron, one of six players left in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup points race for a $1 million annuity, was a stroke back after a 64. He birdied the final two holes.
Petrovic was 12 under after a 67.
Lopez earns an ace and lead in Blue Bay LPGA on birthday.
How’s this for a birth- day present?
Gaby Lopez turned 25 on Friday and celebrated with a hole-in-one that helped her to a 6-under-66 and a one-stroke lead over Ariya Jutanugarn after the third round of the Blue Bay LPGA tournament.
Even better, Lopez will be after her first career U.S. LPGA Tour victory in the final round on Saturday and will play in the last group with Ariya, the No. 1-ranked golfer. They also played together on Friday at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Club.
“I have been waiting for this moment,” the Mexican said. “I’m very lucky to share the course with the best player in the world. You know, I had fun. I enjoyed today.”
U.S. beats Sweden, cruises into 4 Nations Cup title game.
SASKATCHEWAN» Sydney Brodt, Melissa Samoskevich and Hannah Brandt scored in the first period and the U.S. women’s hockey team beat Sweden 5-1 on Friday to cruise into the Four Nations Cup title game.
The United States will face the Canada-Finland winner in the championship game Saturday night. The U.S. finished the preliminary round 3-0, opening with a 5-1 victory over Finland on Tuesday and beating Canada 2-1 on Wednesday night on Brodt’s late goal. — The Associated Press