GOLF
Kokrak has record lead
Jason Kokrak shot a bogey-free 8-under 62 Friday for a record five-stroke lead after two rounds at the AT&T Byron Nelson in Irving, Texas, where local favorite Jordan Spieth missed the cut for the first time at the tournament where he debuted as a 16-year-old high school junior. Kokrak, the 128th-ranked player in the world, matched the Nelson's 36-hole record at 12 under after his career-best scoring round, and no one has ever had a bigger lead there after two rounds. Billy Horschel was second at 7 under after three consecutive birdies to finish at 65. Dustin Johnson, the world's No. 1 player, had his second consecutive 67 and was among six players tied for third. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) had a 69 and is 1 under. Bryce Molder (Conway) and Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) did not make the cut.
Thompson ahead by 3
Lexi Thompson shot her second consecutive 6-under 65 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead over playing partner Gerina Piller into the weekend at the Kingsmill Championship in Williamsburg, Va. The long-hitting Thompson had six birdies in a bogey-free round on Kingsmill's River Course. Piller, who is winless on the LPGA Tour, shot a 67, closing birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey. Top-ranked Lydia Ko was four strokes back at 8 under after a bogey-free 67. Emily Tubert (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 71 and is even after two rounds. Gaby Lopez (Arkansas Razorbacks) did not make the cut.
Trio shares Pro-Am lead
Tyler Duncan shot a 7-under 64 at Furman University Golf Club and Stephan Jaeger and Blake Adams each had a 5-under 66 at the Thornblade Club to share the lead at 13 under Friday in the Web.com's BMW Charity Pro-AM in Greenville, S.C. Andrew Yun and Xinjun Zhang are at 12 under in a tie for fourth. Andrew Landry (Arkansas Razorbacks) had a 65 on The Preserve at Verdae course, is 10 under and tied for seventh. Matt Atkins (Henderson State) shot 65 and is 9 under. Ethan Tracy shot a 66 and is 8 under. He and Atkins played the Thornblade Club. Austin Cook had a 67 and is 8 under, while Zack Fischer (Little Rock) shot a 70 and is 7 under. Cook and Fischer played the Furman University Golf Club. Taylor Moore (Razorbacks) had a 69 and is 6 under. Sebastian Cappelen (Razorbacks) shot a 71 and is 4 under. Moore and Cappelen played The Preserve at Verdae course.
Funk in front by 1
Fred Funk shot a 7-under 65 on Friday to take the second-round lead in the Regions Tradition at Birmingham, Ala. Funk, 60, seeking his first PGA Tour Champions individual title since 2012, had a one-stroke lead over Scott Parel in the first of the 50-and-over circuit's five majors this season. Funk had three birdies on par 3s, including No. 17 to move ahead at 12-under 132. Parel, who went through Q-school in 2016, shot a 66. He made a long putt to save par on No. 18, extending his bogey-free streak to 32 holes. Scott McCarron, part of a four-way tie for the first-round lead, was three shots back after a 70. The third round today will have a two-tee start because of expected bad weather. Glen Day (Little Rock) shot a 68 and is 6 under. He is tied for 10th place. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) had a 71 and is 2 under going into the weekend.
Quiros leads Forte Open
Alvaro Quiros birdied his final four holes to move into the lead at the halfway stage of the Rocco Forte Open in Verdura, Sicily, on Friday and round off a stunning return to form. Quiros added a second-round 64 to his opening 63 to sit at 15 under after 36 holes. The Spaniard, who has dropped from a high of 21st in the world rankings in January 2012 to 703rd, also posted an eagle and another birdie before his fantastic finish lifted him two shots clear of first-round leaders Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland and Sweden's Sebastian Soderberg. Pep Angles (Central Arkansas) had a 66 and is 7 under after two rounds.
FOOTBALL
Garrett signs contract
Top overall draft pick Myles Garrett has signed his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns. Garrett's four-year deal is worth an estimated $30.4 million and includes a $20.3 million guaranteed signing bonus. The former Texas A&M All-American signed his contract Friday and the Browns posted a video on Twitter of Garrett filling out the paperwork. Garrett is a defensive end with the speed of a running back. He had 32 ½ sacks in three seasons for the Aggies. He will have an immediate impact for the Browns, who went 1-15 last season and haven't been to the playoffs since 2002. Garrett was impressive last week during the club's rookie minicamp, showing off his ability to come off the edge and pressure quarterbacks. Cleveland has signed six of the 10 players the club drafted last month.
Fitzpatrick goes with Bucs
Former Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the organization announced Friday. ESPN reported through a source that the deal was for one year and $3 million. The Bucs are the seventh NFL team for Fitzpatrick, 34. After being drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2005, he played in Cincinnati, Buffalo, Tennessee and Houston before signing with the Jets before the 2015 season. The veteran will be backing up Bucs starter Jameis Winston, who has started all 32 games since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2015. Winston's previous backup, Mike Glennon, signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago Bears in March.
Agent: No concussion
The agent for Tom Brady said Friday the New England Patriots quarterback was not diagnosed with a concussion last year. Don Yee made that statement to ESPN and added that "it's obviously a good thing that the organization and everyone close to him is vigilant and always looking out for his health." Brady's wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, told CBS This Morning in an interview that aired Wednesday that the quarterback played through a concussion last year while leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl title. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said "there are no records that indicate that Mr. Brady suffered a head injury or concussion, or exhibited or complained of concussion symptoms."
TENNIS
Thiem ends Nadal's streak
Rafael Nadal's winning streak ended at 17 matches as he lost in straight sets to Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open in Rome on Friday. Venus Williams is also out of the tournament after the American was defeated 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 by third seed Garbine Muguruza of Spain. Thiem's 6-4, 6-3 victory came after he was beaten by the Spaniard in the Madrid Open final last week. Thiem, the No. 8 seed, will face four-time champion Novak Djokovic or Juan Martin del Potro in the semifinals. Their quarterfinal was postponed by rain, with Djokovic leading 6-1, 1-2, and will resume today. The other semifinal pits John Isner against No. 16 seed Alexander Zverev. The unseeded Isner beat sixth-seeded Marin Cilic 7-6 (3), 2-6, 7-6 (2). Zverev beat fifth seed and 2014 semi-finalist Milos Raonic 7-6 (1), 6-1. In the women's draw, Muguruza will face No.8 seed Elina Svitolina after the Ukrainian beat second-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-6 (9).
MOTOR SPORTS
Almirola has broken back
Aric Almirola has been advised he could miss up to three months of the NASCAR season with a fractured vertebra. Almirola said he'll heed his doctor warnings and not rush his way back into a race car, which could take eight to 12 weeks. He also said doctors warned him that further injury could lead to paralysis. Almirola suffered a compression fracture of his T5 vertebra after he crashed a week ago tonight at Kansas Speedway. Regan Smith is substituting for Almirola in the No. 43 Ford at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the qualifying event for the All-Star race.
Sports on 05/20/2017