GOLF
Chun near record
South Korean In Gee Chun remains firmly on course for the second major of her career -- and a possible golfing record -- after posting a superb 6-under 65 in the third round of the Evian Championship at Evian-Les-Bains, France, on Saturday. Holding a four-shot lead over Sung Hyun Park, Chun is at 19-under overall. Chun, the 2015 U.S. Women's Open champion, had six birdies and an eagle for the round. Chun was the overnight leader, with Park second and Shanshan Feng -- China's only major winner -- two shots further back. Park made four birdies in a consistent 67. Feng, who started slowly with four pars and a bogey on five, got her game together too late, drifting six shots behind after making 69. South Korean So Yeon Ryu, who has been remarkably consistent with only one bogey in three rounds -- on her 10th hole Saturday -- is seven shots behind Chun in fourth place. Former Arkansas Razorback Stacy Lewis had a 2-over 73 and is 2 over after three rounds. Heavy rain is forecast for today's final round.
Pair share lead
Michael Thomson shot a 7-under 64 on Saturday for a share of the third-round lead with Scott Stallings in the Web.com Tour Finals' Albertson Boise Open. Stallings, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, had a 66 to match Thompson at 16-under 197 at Hillcrest in the second of four events that will determine 25 PGA Tour cards for next season. Argentina's Miguel Angel Carballo was a stroke back after a 67. England's Andrew "Beef" Johnston, the second-round leader after a 63, was fourth at 14 under after a 70. The series features the top 75 players from the Web.com money list, Nos. 126-200 in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings -- Stallings was 128th, Thompson 145th, and Carballo 187th -- and non-members such as Johnston with enough PGA Tour money to have placed in the top 200 in the FedEx Cup had they been eligible. Austin Cook (Jonesboro, Arkansas Razorbacks) was 13 under after a 66 and is tied for fifth. Tag Ridings (Razorbacks) is 8 under after a 69. Sebastian Cappelen (Razorbacks) is 7 under after a 70.
Sutherland leads
Kevin Sutherland birdied four his last six holes at Pebble Beach for a 4-under 68 and the second-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions' Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, Calif. Sutherland, 52, had an 8-under 135 total for a one-stroke lead over Paul Broadhurst, the Englishman who won the Senior British Open at Carnoustie in July. Sutherland is winless on the 50-and-over tour after winning once on the PGA Tour. In 2014, he set the senior tour record with a 13-under 59 at the Dick's Sporting Goods Open. Broadhurst followed his opening 66 with a 70 at Poppy Hills. Some players were unable to finish before dark. France's Jean Van de Velde was the top player still on the course at 3 under with two holes left. Glen Day (Little Rock) had an even-par round of 71 and is even after two rounds. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) had a 3-over 74 and is 5 over going into the final round. Mike Grob (Razorbacks) was 6 over through 14 holes.
Levy on top
Alexander Levy surged into a one-shot clubhouse lead midway through the third round of the weather-affected Italian Open before play was suspended because of darkness Saturday. The Frenchman started the afternoon six shots behind second-round leader Chris Paisley but began with an eagle and had five birdies in a brilliant front nine. Levy was 14 under after 12 holes when play was suspended, one shot ahead of Paisley, home favorite Francesco Molinari, Danny Willett and Chris Hanson. Bad weather affected the first two days of the Italian Open and meant that half the field had yet to start their second rounds Saturday morning. Seeking his first European Tour victory, Paisley shot an 8-under 63 in the morning to take a one-stroke lead into the third round but the Englishman bogeyed the first.
MOTOR SPORTS
Larson has top speed
Kyle Larson posted the top speed of 183.299 mph in the final practice session Saturday for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup opener at Chicagoland Speedway. Larson is one of four drivers who have qualified for the 10-race playoff for the first time. He'll start 10th in today's race at the 1.5-mile oval. Rookie Chase Elliott and top-seed and pole-sitter Kyle Busch were the next two fastest, followed by Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch. Chase qualifiers had the seven fastest laps. Rain on Friday forced cancellation of qualifying, so all 16 Chase drivers will start from the front of the field. Larson was also fastest in Saturday's early practice that produced faster speeds under cooler conditions. Jimmie Johnson had the fastest car in Friday's lone practice and posted the best 10-lap average Saturday.
HORSE RACING
On Leave wins
On Leave extended her winning streak to four with a front-running victory Saturday in the $500,000 Sands Point Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Belmont Park. Unlike her recent rallying efforts, On Leave changed tactics and set a moderate pace with Jose Ortiz aboard before drawing off to a 2 3/4-length victory as the 3-5 favorite. The time was 1:47.82 for the 11/8 miles. "It was a perfect trip." Ortiz said. "There wasn't a lot of speed in the race. We really never put her on the lead before, but the circumstances made us." On Leave, trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, paid $3.50, $2.70 and $2.30. Diamond Fields was second, returning $5.40 and $3.90. Tin Type Gal paid $3.20 to show.
BOXING
Alvarez wins by KO
Canelo Alvarez knocked out Liam Smith in the ninth round Saturday night to win the WBO light middleweight championship before a record crowd of 51,240 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Alvarez (48-1-1) dropped Smith with a big left hand to the body to remain on pace for a showdown with undefeated, unified middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, which could be held by September 2017. Alvarez's blistering pace of right uppercuts took its toll, as he knocked down Smith (23-1-1) in the eighth before finishing him in the next round. Smith also went down after an uppercut in the seventh. He nodded his head wanting to return by the count of five after the first two before the Mexican star stopped him.
FOOTBALL
Ravens coach dies
Clarence Brooks, who served as a defensive line coach with the Baltimore Ravens for 11 years, has died at the age of 65. The Ravens announced that Brooks died Saturday in Weston, Fla. He had esophageal and stomach cancer. Brooks joined the Ravens in 2005. He coached the defensive line until this spring, when he underwent treatment for his illness. He transitioned into a senior defensive assistant role, but occasionally spent time with the team -- including at training camp this summer.
PARALYMPICS
Cyclist dies after crash
An Iranian cyclist died after a crash in a C4-5 cycling road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday. The International Paralympics Committee identified the dead rider as Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48. It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital. It was not immediately clear where he died.
IPC officials said the crash took place as the rider was descending a steep hill. A Paralympic biography said he was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn't medal.
Sports on 09/18/2016