LITTLE ROCK — GOLF Lewis loses lead
Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn shot a 2-under-par 70 Saturday to lead by three strokes after the third round of the LPGA Thailand in Chonburi despite finishing with two bogeys. Last year’s top ranked amateur, Ariya had seven birdies - including five consecutive from No. 10 - for an 11-under 205 total at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course. The 17-year-old Thai needed a sponsor’s invitation to enter the tournament in her first year as a professional. Stacy Lewis (76), Se Ri Pak (71) and Beatriz Recari (72) followed, and Inbee Park (71) was another stroke behind. Lewis (Arknasas Razorbacks), the third-ranked American, finished with three bogeys to lose her three-stroke lead after the second round.
ATHLETICS Emmert supported
NCAA President Mark Emmert still has the confidence of the association’s executive committee, despite several indicators in recent days that some schools are questioning his effectiveness. The NCAA released a statement Saturday, revealing that the executive committee has “unanimously affirmed” its ongoing support of Emmert. Both the decision to make such a statement - and to do so, without warning, over a weekend - are highly unusual for the NCAA, which has been under fire for some time over the way many high-profile cases have been handled, most recently the long investigation of Miami. Still, the committee also wants the NCAA to move forward with a total review of the association’s policies, and said “subsequent improvement ... is necessary.”
FOOTBALL
Bears hire Tide assistant
The Chicago Bears have hired Mike Groh as their receivers coach. Groh spent the past two seasons as Alabama’s receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, helping the Crimson Tide win back-to-back national championships. He also served as an offensive graduate assistant at Alabama in 2009 and coached quarterbacks at Louisville in 2010. Before that, Groh worked as an assistant at his alma mater Virginia in 2001-2008, coaching quarterbacks and receivers and serving as offensive coordinator for three seasons.
BASEBALL Mathis out 6 weeks
Miami Marlins backup catcher Jeff Mathis has broken his right collarbone in the team’s spring training opener and is expected to be out six weeks. Mathis was injured in the fourth inning Saturday when he was hit by a foul ball off the bat of St. Louis Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday. After Holliday walked, Mathis was replaced by Kyle Skipworth.
TENNIS Kvitova wins Dubai title
Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova won her first title in six months when she beat Sara Errani 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in the Dubai (United Arab Emirates) Championships final Saturday.
David Ferrer will defend his Copa Claro title in the final against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. Ferrer defeated fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-2 Saturday on the outdoor clay in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Wawrinka defeated Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 7-5 to reach his first final in the Argentine capital.
Marinko Matosevic retired 37 minutes into his semifinal against Kei Nishikori on Saturday, sending the Japanese player to the final today of the U.S. National Indoor Championships in Memphis. Nishikori called the quick end surprising because he didn’t know Matosevic was injured. Nishikori will face Feliciano Lopez of Spain, a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 winner over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan. Marina Erakovic of New Zealand won her first singles title when Sabine Lisicki of Germany retired because of an illness.
Top-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic beat qualifier Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 6-2, 6-1 Saturday to reach the final of the Open 13 in Marsaille, France. Berdych will seek his first title of the season against the winner of the all-French semifinal pitting Jo-Wilfried Tsonga against Gilles Simon.
GOLF Poulter, Mahan set up semifinal
MARANA, Ariz. - The stars are gone from the Match Play Championship. Still alive are Ian Poulter and Hunter Mahan, the best in match play over the Past few years.
Poulter added to his reputation Saturday when he beat Steve Stricker with one big putt after another, raising his record in this format to 19-3-2 over the Past four years.
Mahan outlasted U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson in 18 holes, leaving him two victories away from joining Tiger Woods as the only repeat winners of this World Golf Championship. Mahan hasn’t lost a match in two years, 11 consecutive victories, and has gone 151 holes at Dove Mountain without trailing.
Poulter and Mahan meet this morning in the semifinals.
Matt Kuchar had no trouble against Robert Garrigus, building a 4-up lead through 10 holes and hanging on for a 3-and-2 victory. Kuchar has made it to the quarterfinals the past three years, and this will be his second time in the semifinals in the past three years. Kuchar faces Jason Day of Australia, who won a tight match against Graeme McDowell in 18 holes.
Along with a perfect singles record in the Ryder Cup, Poulter has won the WGC version of the Match Play Championship and the World Match Play Championship in Spain in 2011. He wasn’t aware of his record since 2010, nor did he sound terribly surprised.
“I’m pretty proud of it,” he said. “Does it surprise me? I love match play.”
That much is becoming abundantly clear. After he pulled away from Tim Clark of South Africa in the third round Saturday morning, he faced his toughest challenge yet in Stricker, who started his 46th birthday celebration by making eight birdies against Scott Piercy in the third round.
Stricker holed a 30-foot putt on the final hole for the victory, and then ran into someone who putted even better.
Sports, Pages 26 on 02/24/2013