Off the wire

GOLF Lewis leads at Dubai

Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead during the suspended second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters. The third ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour, had a 9-under 135 total at Emirates Golf Course in the Ladies European Tour’s season-ending tournament. “The putts went in today,” Lewis said. “I made a little adjustment on the practice green and it seemed to work. I made a couple of long ones that I probably shouldn’t have made and it turned out to be a good day.” Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg was second after a 69. Spain’s Carlota Ciganda was 7 under after a 70, and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum was another stroke back after a 70. Six players were unable to complete the round because of darkness.

David Higgins shot a 6-under 64 on Thursday to lead the Hong Kong Open by one shot after the first round. Higgins, who lost his European Tour card at the end of last season, was one stroke ahead of Andrea Pavan. Seven others, including Seve Benson, Andrew Dodt and Sujjan Singh, were at 4 under. Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez (70) three-putted for a bogey at the last hole to finish six shots behind Higgins. John Daly (Maumelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) had two birdies, six bogeys and a quadruple bogey for an 8-over 78.

ATHLETICS ORU back to Summit

Oral Roberts is returning to the Summit League in all sports, beginning July 1, 2014, the school announced Thursday. The Tulsa school returns to a league where it spent 15 seasons, leaving the Southland Conference after two seasons of competition. Central Arkansas and Oral Roberts are travel partners in the 14-team Southland Conference, which has added several schools from Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma over the past two years. Last season, Oral Roberts won the Southland women’s basketball title. During its previous tenure in the Mid-Con/Summit League, Oral Roberts won 49 regular season and 91 tournament championships.

BASEBALL

Wilson, Dodgers do deal

A person with knowledge of the negotiations says free-agent reliever Brian Wilson has agreed to terms on a $10 million, one-year contract to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal is pending a physical, the person said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had not made an announcement regarding the quirky, bearded pitcher. Wilson’s new contract includes an option for the 2015 season. Wilson, a right-hander and the 2010 majors saves leader while with San Francisco, joined the NL West champion Dodgers last season after a second elbow ligament replacement surgery. He missed almost the entire 2012 season when the Giants won their second World Series in three years. Wilson went 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA in 18 outings this year for Los Angeles.

The Milwaukee Brewers have traded outfielder Norichika Aoki to the Kansas City Royals, a move that likely means Ryan Braun will move from left to right field in 2014. Milwaukee acquired left-handed pitcher Will Smith from Kansas City in exchange for Aoki, who hit .286 with 8 home runs, 37 RBI, 20 steals and 80 runs scored last season. Smith, who played for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in 2011, went 8-10 with a 4.76 ERA in 35 games, including 17 starts, during his time in Kansas City. The Royals have a deep bullpen and Smith pitched primarily in relief, going 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA last season, which ultimately made him expendable in a trade. Braun is expected back after his season-ending, 65-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s anti-drug agreement. Rookie Khris Davis emerged down the stretch filling in for Braun in left by hitting .279 with 11 home runs. The Brewers could go into next season with Davis in left, Gold Glove-winner Carlos Gomez in center and Braun in right. Aoki would become the first Japanese-born position player to suit up for the Royals.

A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that the Boston Red Sox have agreed with reliever Edward Mujica on a two year deal. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced. Mujica, 29, gives the Red Sox some protection if closer Koji Uehara, 38, cannot repeat his 2013 performance next season. Mujica was 2-1 with 37 saves and a 2.78 ERA for the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals last season.He made two appearances in the playoffs, giving up one run in two innings. He did not appear in the World Series against the Red Sox. In an eight-year career, the right-handed Venezuelan has a 19-19 record with 41 saves and a 3.75 ERA.

Hall of Famer Dave Winfield has joined the Major League Baseball Players Association staff as a special assistant to new executive director Tony Clark. The 12-time All-Star was a player representative during 15 of his 22 major-league seasons, hit 465 home runs and was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2001. Clark was approved Tuesday by the union’s executive board to replace Michael Weiner, who died Nov. 21 of a brain tumor. Winfield has worked with the San Diego Padres since 2001 as executive vice president/senior adviser.

FOOTBALL

Martin questioned again

A person familiar with the situation said Miami Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin is meeting in Los Angeles with NFL special investigator Ted Wells for a second round of questioning about the team’s bullying scandal. The person confirmed the meeting Thursday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Martin was first interviewed by Wells for nearly seven hours Nov. 15 in New York. Wells then spent the week of Nov. 18 interviewing Dolphins players, coaches and staff in South Florida, and he met with suspended guard Richie Incognito. Martin alleges he was harassed daily by teammates, including Incognito. Last week the Dolphins put Martin on the reserve/non-football illness list, ending his season.

Two former Missouri football players are suing the NCAA in federal court over head injuries they suffered decades ago, joining a cascade of recent lawsuits against college sports’ governing body related to traumatic brain injuries. Tony Van Zant and Sharron Washington filed the suit Tuesday. Both played for Missouri from 1987 to 1991. Van Zant is now running backs coach at Division II Lincoln University in Jefferson City. Both say they suffer headaches, depression and other ailments. The lawsuit seeks medical monitoring and testing for former college players with similar head injuries and didn’t advance to the NFL. Similar lawsuits have been filed in recent months in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota and Tennessee by former players from schools such as Georgia Tech, Oregon and Vanderbilt.

MOTOR SPORTS

NASCAR tweaks elections

NASCAR has made sweeping eligibility changes to the Hall of Fame election process, including tweaks that place both Bill Elliott and Mark Martin of Batesville immediately in line for induction. Among the six changes announced Thursday is that drivers are now eligible if they have competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR or have turned 55 in the calendar year before nominating day. The previous rule made drivers eligible after they’d been retired for three years. Drivers can continue to compete now under the new rules without compromising eligibility. The ballot also will include only 20 nominees, down five from the first five classes. NASCAR also has established the “Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions” that will begin with the 2015 class.

Sports, Pages 18 on 12/06/2013

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