COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Cornerback charged
A Notre Dame cornerback accused of tackling a police officer and punching him in the side and stomach during an altercation outside a bar was charged Tuesday with felony counts of resisting law enforcement and battery against a public safety official. Devin Butler was arrested Saturday and released on a $1,000 bond, but St. Joseph County Prosecutor Kenneth P. Cotter requested more time to investigate the case and determine what charges were appropriate. Butler is scheduled to be arraigned today. He couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday because he has an unlisted phone number. Court records don't indicate he has hired an attorney. Butler's arrest came hours after five other teammates were arrested in Fulton County, about 40 miles south of South Bend. Indiana State Police said a trooper stopped a car for speeding and detected the odor of marijuana and with the help of a drug-sniffing dog, he found the marijuana and a handgun in the car. Starting safety Max Redfield, running back Dexter Williams, linebacker Te'Von Coney, receiver Kevin Stepherson and cornerback Ashton White were charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. Redfield, Stepherson and Williams face an additional misdemeanor charge of possession of an unlicensed handgun. Football Coach Brian Kelly announced Sunday that Redfield had been dismissed from the team and Butler, who already was out until October with a broken foot, had been suspended indefinitely. Kelly said the others faced internal team discipline. All six remain enrolled in school. University spokesman Paul Browne issued a statement Tuesday saying: "Students charged criminally are subject to additional sanctions by the university, separately from any imposed by athletic teams or other extracurricular activities." He previously had said any student arrested on a felony charge also faces dismissal from the university.
S.C. reports violations
South Carolina's athletic department reported 23 violations of NCAA or SEC rules in the past year, nine involving the football team. All but one of the infractions were classified as Level III and outlined by the NCAA as violations isolated or limited in nature; provide no more than a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage; and do not include more than a minimal impermissible benefit. South Carolina released its infractions report this week from an open records request by The Associated Press. The time period is from August 2015 through July. Six of the nine violations involving football came since Will Muschamp took over in December. One, however, occurred when ex-coach Steve Spurrier told reporters that the daughter of a former NFL player was visiting campus.
GOLF
Angling for Cup play
Darren Clarke got an extra week to start mulling over his three captain's picks for Europe in the Ryder Cup because the top nine already are set. Matthew Fitzpatrick finished fifth in the Czech Masters and locked up no worse than the final spot. Davis Love III has a little more time, and he likely will need it. Brandt Snedeker's tie for third in the Wyndham Championship moved him up three spots to No. 6, and it would take a peculiar set of circumstances to bump him out of the top eight. The Barclays this week at Bethpage Black is the final qualifying event. The top five already have clinched a spot on the American team -- Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker and Brooks Koepka. Snedeker is followed by Zach Johnson, who leads Patrick Reed at No. 8 by $157,602. The Barclays has an $8.5 million purse, so players still can make up ground. Even so, the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs effectively serves as a Ryder Cup qualifier for 14 players. The winner of the Barclays gets $1.53 million. Every $1,000 counts as a Ryder Cup point, so that's 1,530 points. And that means Charley Hoffman at No. 22 is the lowest player in the standings with a mathematical chance at qualifying. Love won't have to make his three picks until after the third playoff event at the BMW Championship, and his fourth pick will be made immediately after the Tour Championship. So there's still time for him and for the players.
Lewis likes Bluejack
Former Arkansas Razorback Stacy Lewis had not been home much this summer from playing and planning a wedding, but the Houston native had the perfect place to get ready for the Olympics. She's among tour players who now are members at Bluejack National, the first U.S. course by Tiger Woods Design. Lewis said she became a member through relationships with Steve Elkington, and her husband Gerrod Caldwell knew the developers. "I've been out there quite a few times when I've been home," Lewis said. "The grass is the same as here -- the same zoysia, putting greens, everything. I think that helped a little bit this week just from hitting pitch shots." Lewis tied for fourth, missing a playoff for the bronze by one shot. She said she figures it will help going forward, which is why she prefers to practice at Bluejack even though it's a 45-minute drive from her house. "It's worth it," she said. "You can spend all day there. They have a back practice greens and if you want it super fast for a tournament, 'We'll do that for you.' They've been very accommodating."
TENNIS
Radwanska advances
Top-seed Agnieszka Radwanska breezed past 19-year-old Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 Tuesday night in the second round of the Connecticut Open. The fourth-ranked player in the world trailed 4-5 and faced a set point before taking control of the match. Olympic doubles champions Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina of Russia became the first players to advance to the third round of the singles competition. Vesnina was leading Anett Kontaveit 6-4, 1-0 when the 20-year-old Estonian withdrew with a left thigh injury. Makarova beat qualifier Anatasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-3, 6-2. Belgian Kirsten Flipkens added to an already memorable summer by beating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. Flipkens, who upset Venus Williams at the Olympics, had lost in the second round of qualifying in New Haven. But she was moved into the main draw after Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko withdrew earlier in the day with a right knee injury.
OLYMPICS
Sentence for shooting
The wife of a 1984 Olympic medalist is facing life in prison for killing him -- a shooting she claimed was self-defense following years of abuse. Jane Laut was sentenced Tuesday to two consecutive terms of 25 years to life -- one for first-degree murder and the other for using a gun in the killing. She was married for 29 years to David Laut, who won a bronze medal in the shot put. Laut shot him in 2009 at their Oxnard home. Laut claimed her husband threatened to shoot her and their 10-year-old son and the gun went off as the couple struggled for it. Prosecutors noted he was shot six times and said Laut stood to gain from her husband's insurance.
Sports on 08/24/2016