Lashley, looking for first win, opens six-shot lead
Nate Lashley galloped to a commanding six-stroke lead after the third round at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit on Saturday with a performance that might leave casual observers wondering why the 36-yearold is such a late bloomer.
A family tragedy 15 years ago proved a monumental setback for Lashley, whose parents and girlfriend were killed in a light plane crash while flying home to Nebraska after watching him play in a collegiate tournament at the University of Arizona.
Lashley struggled in his first few years as a pro and briefly quit the game in 2012 to sell real estate, before deciding he could not walk away from the sport after all. He is now in his second season on the PGA Tour and appeared in supreme control as he compiled a nine-birdie, 9-underpar 63 at Detroit Golf Club. He also shot 63 to share the first-round lead.
“It was just one of those days where really nothing could go wrong,” Lashley said. “When I hit bad shots, I really wasn’t in any trouble in the rough. I had shots at the green and those shots out of the rough came out nicely and landed in good spots and a lot of them rolled up by the pin. It was just one of those days all around.”
At 23-under 193, he goes into today’s final round with a commanding advantage over second-place J.T. Poston, who lost ground on the leader despite shooting 66.
Cameron Tringale, moved into third place with a 65 that left him seven back.
Lashley started the third round with a one-stroke lead over long-hitting Cameron Champ, who disappeared with an error-strewn 75. While Champ struggled, Lashley played with a poise that belied his inexperience at leading a PGA Tour event.
After four birdies on the outward half, he added five more coming home, finishing with a precise approach to 4 feet at the par-4 18th.
Lashley was the last player to get into this week’s field, and only then after a withdrawal on the eve of the tournament.
Among other rewards, victory today would earn Lashley a spot in next month’s British Open at Royal Portrush.
This month’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach was his first career appearance in a major championship.
He does not blame the death of his parents and girlfriend for his oncourse struggles but acknowledges it was hard to play in a positive frame of mind.
STRICKER INCREASES U.S. SENIOR OPEN LEAD >> Steve Stricker opened a sixstroke lead in the U.S. Senior Open, shooting a 4-under 66 and extending his bogey-free run to 48 holes. Seeking his second senior major title after winning the Regions Tradition by six strokes in May in Alabama, the 52-year-old Stricker had a tournament-record 18-under 192 total on the rain-softened Warren Golf Course in South Bend, Indiana. He opened with a 62 to tie the tournament record and share the first-round lead with David Toms, then shot a 64 on Friday to take a two-stroke advantage.
Jerry Kelly was second after a 70. Toms was third at 11 under after a 70. Bob Estes had a 68 to get to 10 under. PARK, CIGANDA TIED IN ARKANSAS >> Sung Hyun Park birdied the final two holes for an 8-under 63 and a share of lead with Carlota Ciganda after the second round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Ciganda shot a 66 to match Park at 13-under 129 at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. The Spanish player chipped in from 60 yards for eagle on the par-4 first hole and closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th.
First-round leader Inbee Park was tied for third at 11 under, following her opening 62 with a 69. Top-ranked Hyo Joo Kim (64) also was 11 under with Danielle Kang (63), Linnea Strom (65), Brittany Altomare (65) and Daniela Darquea (65).
Motor sports
DILLON EARNS POLE FOR CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY RACE >> Austin Dillon has won the pole for today’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway. Dillon recorded a top lap of 176.263 mph in his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. It’s the sixth career pole for the 29-year-old Dillon, who is seeking his first Cup Series win since last year’s Daytona 500.
Kevin Harvick qualified second on a hot, humid Saturday in Joliet, Illinois, followed by Daniel Hemric, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch. Harvick is a two-time winner at the bumpy 1.5 mile oval in suburban Chicago.
Joey Logano, who leads the series standings by one point over Kyle Busch, qualified 19th.
CUSTER WINS AT CHICAGOLAND FOR 4TH XFINITY SERIES VICTORY >> Cole Custer held off Joey Logano at Chicagoland Speedway for his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season. The 21-year-old Custer had the strongest car all day long, leading 151 of the 200 laps for the 300-mile race.
Logano finished second and is considered one of the favorites for today’s Cup Series race on the bumpy 1.5-mile oval. Christopher Bell crossed the finish line third, but he was disqualified after his car failed a post-race inspection. LECLERC LEADS HAMILTON, VERSTAPPEN TO TAKE AUSTRIAN GP POLE >> Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc stormed to pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix, with last year’s winner Max Verstappen joining him on a front row of 21-year-olds after Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton was demoted for impeding in Spielberg.
Hamilton qualified second but was handed a three-place penalty that, in a twist typical of a sport renowned for turning simple maths into a complex calculation, dropped the Briton to fourth.
There was no confusion about the pole, with Leclerc going into the final top 10 shootout as favorite after setting the pace in two of the three practice sessions and the first two phases of qualifying. The Monegasque’s second career pole was secured with a time of 1 minute, 3.003 seconds — the fastest ever lap around the undulating 4.3km Red Bull Ring.
NHL
PENGUINS SEND KESSEL TO COYOTES >> The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded high-scoring winger Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes for center Alex Galchenyuk. Minor league defenseman Pierre-oliver Joseph also will go to Pittsburgh in the deal. The Coyotes get minor league defenseman Dane Birks and a 2021 fourth-round draft pick.
The 31-year-old Kessel had 27 goals and 55 assists with the Penguins last season, his fourth with the team. He won Stanley Cup titles with Pittsburgh in 2016-17.
Kessel has scored at least 30 goals six times during a 13-year NHL career that includes stints with Boston and Toronto.
Soccer
HAITI RALLIES PAST CANADA, REACHES GOLD CUP SEMIFINALS >> Haiti reached the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time, overcoming a two-goal deficit to beat Canada 3-2 in Houston. The 101st-ranked Haitians will play Mexico or Costa Rica on Tuesday at Glendale, Arizona.