Sunday, October 10, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Tiger to be dethroned by Westwood on October 31st

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 10:09 PM PDT

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods, who was once the God of Golf and no rival ever came close to challenging him, is now in a desperate state which is unimaginable to his ardent fans even now.

As informed by the world golf ranking website, if neither Westwood nor Tiger compete in any other tournaments in the remainder of this month, then Westwood would end the reign of the golfing legend at the top of the table at the end of this month.

England's Lee Westwood who is 37 years of age is nursing a calf injury so he is unlikely to play in any tournament this month and Tiger is scheduled to play only in November as stated in his playing schedule so it is almost confirmed that Tiger would indeed be replaced by Lee as the No.1 in golf.

"It's something I've always dreamed of and it would be great if it happened," said a visibly pleased Lee who is currently competing in the European Tour's Alfred Dunhill Links which is taking place in Scotland and finished at a tied 11th position yesterday.

Tiger Woods has spent an enviable amount of time at the top with a total of 620 weeks during his entire career and 279th week straight as of now. According to data, Lee needed just 6.2 points from the Dunhill championship to replace Tiger and he has already amassed 6.4 for his 11th place.

Even though his calf injury would prevent him from participating in the Portugal Masters which he had won last time, he still has enough points to dethrone the reigning king, Tiger Woods.

Westwood would join a select list of three players who have ever replaced Tiger at the top. The list includes Vijay Singh and David Duval only after Tiger claimed the throne in 1998. The only other Englishman who ever claimed the top of the rankings was Nick Faldo. Lee Westwood would only be the second in the 24 years of ranking history.

South Carolina Superior: Gamecocks Knock Off Top-Ranked Alabama

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 03:21 PM PDT

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AHN Sports Staff

Columbia, SC, United States (AHN) – Top-25 program South Carolina built a 21-3 lead in the first half and went on to hold off consensus No. 1 Alabama 35-21 Saturday for the biggest win in coach Steve Spurrier’s era.

Stephen Garcia passed for 201 yards and three scores for the victors.

Alshon Jeffrey collected seven receptions for 127 yards and two scores for the Gamecocks.

Marcus Lattimore provided the ground attack, piling up 93 yards with two scores on 23 carries.

Alabama received little out of its rushing game, getting just 36 yards on 29 carries for an abysmal 1.2 yards per attempt.

Mark Ingram had a quiet afternoon with just 41 yards on 11 carries and ran to the locker room quickly after the final whistle blew.

Greg McElroy kept Alabama in it, passing for 315 yards and two touchdowns.

Lattimore’s 2 yard rushing score with 7:01 left iced the contest for Spurrier’s squad.

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Michigan State Remains Undefeated At Michigan`s Expense

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 03:21 PM PDT

John Raffel – AHN Sports Correspondent

Ann Arbor, MI, United States (AHN) – Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins passed for 284 yards, Edwin Baker rushed for 147 yards and the Spartan defense intercepted three passes to lift MSU past Michigan 34-17 in the battle of the undefeated Big Ten Conference rivals Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

Leading 17-10 at halftime, the Spartans scored a touchdown on the first drive of the second half with Cousins passing 41 yards to Mark Dell.

On the next drive for MSU, Larry Caper scored on an 8-yard run for a 31-10 lead. The scoring play was set up moments earlier on a 42-pass from Cousins to Keith Nichols on the flea-flicker play.

Denard Robinson’s 4-yard scoring run for Michigan on the first play of the fourth quarter cut MSU’s lead to two touchdowns. Dan Conroy added a 28-yard field goal for Michigan State.

The only scoring in the first quarter was on Seth Broekhuizen’s 34-yard field goal for Michigan.

The Spartans took the lead early in the second quarter on Baker’s 61-yard touchdown sprint. The Wolverines struck back with Robinson passing 12 yards to Martell Webb for the touchdown.

The Spartans came back with 10 uncontested points on Le’Veon Bell’s 41-yard run and Don Conroy’s 38-yard field goal.

Robinson passed for 218 yards and ran for 86 for Michigan’s offense, which didn’t gain much more from other players.

Both teams entered the game at 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. In the national coaches poll, Michigan State is ranked 16th and Michigan is rated 17th.

A sellout crowd of 113,065 at Michigan Stadium watched the game. It was the 103rd meeting between Michigan and Michigan State. Michigan has a 67-31-5 advantage.

The winner of the classic battle receives the Paul Bunyan Trophy.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who suffered a mild heart attack and a blood clot in his leg earlier this season, watched the game from the press box.

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Sheltra Wins ARCA Title, Dillon Wins Race

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 03:21 PM PDT

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Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Rockingham, NC, United States (AHN) – Ty Dillon won the battle but it was Patrick Sheltra who won the overall war and captured the 2010 ARCA Racing Series title Saturday at Rockingham Speedway.

Sheltra finished fourth in the American 200 for a final 25-point margin over Craig Goess, while Dillon won his second consecutive race in three career starts in the series.

“I’ve got to thank the Sheltra Motorsports guys, and my mom and my dad (co-owners Richard and Grace Sheltra), and everyone who’s been behind me all this year,” Sheltra said.

“This isn’t a one-race deal. It started out in Daytona and ended up here at ‘The Rock.’ The guys worked their tails off every day, late hours, just to prepare these cars and get them here to be competitive. I owe everything to them right now.”

Sheltra scored two wins, 12 top-five finishes, and 17 top-10 finishes en route to the championship and is the sixth driver/owner to win a championship in series history — the first since Benny Parsons in 1969.

Kevin Swindell led the first 52 laps while Sheltra stayed out of trouble and worked his way to the front.

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Kyle Busch Scores Record 12th Nationwide Win

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 03:21 PM PDT

Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Fontana, CA, United States (AHN) – Still hoping to gain ground in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase, Kyle Busch continues to dominate when he races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Saturday at Auto Club Speedway Busch scored his record-setting 12th Nationwide victory of the season when he captured the CampingWorld.com 300.

Busch rallied from a speeding penalty on pit road and took advantage of two poor pit stops by Kevin Harvick, who had the fastest car on the track, to win the race.

Busch won the pole and was fastest on re-starts, but Harvick was the car to beat on long runs in the 300-mile race.

Harvick’ was knocked out of the lead twice due to poor pit stops.

Points leader Brad Keselowski finished second, while Harvick ran third. The top-10 was rounded out by Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, Aric Almirola, Ryan Newman, Justin Allgaier, Mike Bliss and Reid Sorenson.

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Slocum Grabs One-Stroke Lead At McGladrey Classic

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 03:21 PM PDT

John Nestor – AHN Sports Correspondent

St. Simon’s Island, GA, United States (AHN) – Heath Slocum fired his third straight round of 4-under-par 66 to take a one stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the McGladrey Classic.

Slocum carded five birdies and a bogey and moved to the top of the leaderboard at 12-under 198.

“Just another solid day. Drove it well again, only missed a couple fairways. Hit some good iron shots. Minimized the mistakes,” Slocum said. “I made a couple, but got away with one for sure. Made one bogey on 16, miss-clubbed, but for the most part it was a good day.”

Troy Merritt and Joe Durant are tied for second a stroke back at 11-under 199. Merritt shot a 6-under 64 and Durant signed for a 68.

David Toms, who entered Saturday in the lead, is two strokes off the pace after an even-par 70.

Slocum had three birdies on the front nine and added two more coming in. He made his final birdie of the day at No. 14 but gave a stroke back with his lone bogey of the round at the 16th.

Merritt made his move with a round that included six birdies without a bogey. He started his round with three consecutive birdies and added one more on the front nine and two more on the back.

“Today I played pretty flawless golf,” Merritt said. “There was a few whoops-a-daisies, but you’re going to have those every day, but to shoot 64, I’ll take it.”

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O`Meara Leads At Senior Players Championship

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 03:21 PM PDT

John Nestor – AHN Sports Correspondent

Potomac, MD, United States (AHN) – Mark O’Meara fired a 1-under-par 69 to take a two-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the Senior Players Championship.

O’Meara is at 5-under 205 for the tournament and leads Loren Roberts, Michael Allen and Russ Cochran by two.

O’Meara started the day with eight pars before a birdie at the par-3 ninth. He added consecutive birdies coming in at Nos. 12 and 13 and could have had an even bigger cushion if not for bogeys at No. 16 and 18.

“I felt like I played pretty well,” O’Meara said. “I was disappointed a little bit in my finish, but overall I felt like I hit some good shots. Anytime you keep shooting under par on this golf course is pretty good.”

O’Meara has sole possession of the lead heading into a final round of an event for the first time since the 1996 Mercedes Championship on the PGA Tour.

Roberts carded a 68 and Allen settled for a 72. Cochran shot a course-record 64 to take a one-stroke lead Friday but found it much tougher going Saturday and fell back into a tie for second after a 73.

“I made some putts and that’s the name of my game. That’s the best club in my bag,” Roberts said. “If I’m going to play well I’ve made some putts, and that’s what I did.”

Joe Ozaki is alone in fifth at 2-under 208 after a 68.

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Kerr Leads Navistar Classic By Three Shots

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 03:21 PM PDT

John Nestor – AHN Sports Correspondent

Prattville, AL, United States (AHN) – Cristie Kerr carded a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead at the Navistar LPGA Classic.

Looking for her third victory of the season, Kerr has a 54-hole total of 17-under 199 on the links-style Senator layout at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Capitol Hill complex.

“I played great,” Kerr said. “I’m still obviously fortunate to have the lead. People still shooting low out there. I’m going to try and go out there and extend it tomorrow.”

Katherine Hull signed for a 5-under 67 and Na Yeon Choi carded a 70 and are tied for second at 14-under 202.

Hull will need to repeat her performance from Saturday and hope she gets a little help from Kerr to win.

“It’s going to take a super low number from someone behind in order to win,” Hull said. “She’ll be tough to beat.”

Kerr could have an even bigger lead if not for a sloppy finish. She had a double-bogey on the 15th and bogeyed the 18th to close out her round.

“Just hit a really bad tee shot, I mean, it was very right,” Kerr said. “So I did the right thing, chipped it out, and just tried to get on the green with a putt at it. Didn’t manage to do that or get up-and-down, and that’s how you make a double.”

Mika Miyazato tied the course record with a 63 Friday but slipped to a 71 on Saturday and is in a tie for fourth at 13-under. Se Ri Pak (67), Haeji Kang (67) and Hee Young Park (67) join Miyazato at 203.

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Ray Of Hope: Tampa`s Offense Awakes In ALDS Game 3 Win Over Rangers

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 03:21 PM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Arlington, TX, United States (AHN) – The Tampa Bay Rays snapped out of a two-game offensive funk to blast the Texas Rangers 6-3 Saturday in game three of the ALDS.

Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena homered for the Rays, while four different players drove in runs.

The outburst was welcome for Tampa Bay, which scored just one run combined in falling into a 2-0 series deficit prior to Saturday.

The Rangers suffered through a tough night, with the terrific trio of Michael Young, Josh Hamilton and Vlad Guerrero combining for five strikeouts and just one hit in 11 at bats.

Texas starter Colby Lewis went five innings but struggled with his control in allowing five walks.

The Rays had success off Darren Oliver, finally taking over in the eighth with RBI singles from Pena and John Jaso.

Crawford and Pena put it away in the ninth with their homers, the latter a two-run shot.

Joaquin Benoit picked up the win for Tampa for retiring five straight batters through the seventh and eight frames.

Rafael Soriano yielded a solo homer to Nelson Cruz in the ninth, but it served as window dressing.

The Rays ripped 11 hits to just 6 for the Rangers, with Crawford, Dan Johnson and Pena each collecting two base-knocks.

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Michigan State Coach Dantonio Praises Offense In Win Vs. Michigan

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 03:21 PM PDT

John Raffel – AHN Sports Correspondent

Ann Arbor, MI, United States (AHN) – Unbeaten and looking mighty fine.

Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins passed for 284 yards, Edwin Baker rushed for 147 yards and the Spartan defense intercepted three passes to lift MSU past Michigan 34-17 in the battle of the undefeated Big Ten Conference rivals Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who suffered a mild heart attack and a blood clot in his leg earlier this season, watched the game from the press box.

“It was an outstanding job by our offense, responding whenever we needed to respond,” Dantonio said. “Cousins throws for about 277 and runs for about 240 or so. All three running backs did a nice job; we spread the ball around.”

“When you look at it —great execution. I thought coach (Don) Treadwell again did an outstanding job calling the game as well as our other coaches. Defensively, we had huge plays at the beginning of the game.”

“I’m disappointed we didn’t play better,” said Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez. “Our guys played hard. We didn’t play well, but Michigan State did.”

Leading 17-10 at halftime, the Spartans scored a touchdown on the first drive of the second half with Cousins passing 41 yards to Mark Dell.

On the next drive for MSU, Larry Caper scored on an 8-yard run for a 31-10 lead. The scoring play was set up moments earlier on a 42-pass from Cousins to Keith Nichols on the flea-flicker play.

Denard Robinson’s 4-yard scoring run for Michigan on the first play of the fourth quarter cut MSU’s lead to two touchdowns. Dan Conroy added a 28-yard field goal for Michigan State.

The only scoring in the first quarter was on Seth Broekhuizen’s 34-yard field goal for Michigan.

The Spartans took the lead early in the second quarter on Baker’s 61-yard touchdown sprint. The Wolverines struck back with Robinson passing 12 yards to Martell Webb for the touchdown.

The Spartans came back with 10 uncontested points on Le’Veon Bell’s 41-yard run and Don Conroy’s 38-yard field goal, making it 17-10 at halftime.

“It was a great win by our football team— a great program win,” Dantonio said. “I thought that to win this football game we were going to have to not just execute well but play beyond their excitement level, which I thought was very, very good for a football game. Michigan has always played with a great amount of passion and excitement these first five games, so I thought it was critical that we be able to match that or surpass that.”

MSU had 536 total yards on offense compared to 377 for Michigan.

Robinson passed for 218 yards and ran for 86 for Michigan’s rushing offense and 304 yards total. The rest of the UM offense compiled only 73 yards.

Both teams entered the game at 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. In the national coaches poll, Michigan State is ranked 16th and Michigan is rated 17th.

“We hurt ourselves with a couple of interceptions, and there were definitely some points down there,” Rodriguez said. “It’s the same old thing: you ought to be able to stop them running when you know they’re going to run. We can’t do that right now, and we’ve got to figure it out and get better for next week.”

The Wolverines continue to struggle on defense.

“I actually thought they did more play action,” Rodriguez said. “They ran a couple double cuts and double moves, which we thought (they would). When we had the freshman in there with the injury, we thought it was probably going to come early, and it did. We just didn’t execute well. I think sometimes instead of tackling, we were reaching for the ball a little bit. We need to get guys on the ground sooner.”

A sellout crowd of 113,065 at Michigan Stadium watched the game. It was the second largest crowd in Michigan Stadium history.

It was the 103rd meeting between Michigan and Michigan State. Michigan has a 67-31-5 advantage. The winner of the classic battle receives the Paul Bunyan Trophy.

MSU has now beaten Michigan three straight times.

“It’s still a rivalry,” Dantonio said. “I have great respect for Michigan and outstanding respect for coach Rodriguez and the job that they do. You embrace rivalries; that’s the way I’ve coached wherever I’ve been. It’s good for college football, and it’s good for fans.”

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