RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Lexi Thompson made a 15-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole Saturday to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the ANA Inspiration.
Trying to win the major championship for the second time in three years, Thompson shot a 3-under 69 to reach 10 under at Mission Hills.
After struggling with her putting most of the day, Thompson hit to 2 feet on the par-4 15th and 16th holes to set up birdies. She missed a 6-foot birdie try on the par-3 17th, then hit a 207-yard, 5-iron approach pin-high to the left on 18 to set up the eagle putt.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko, In Gee Chun and Ariya Jutanugarn were tied for second, and 15 players were within four strokes of the lead.
HOUSTON – Jim Herman and Jamie Lovemark, two players who have never won a PGA Tour event or played in the Masters, shared the lead going into the final round of the Houston Open.
A win Sunday and they get to tee off at Augusta National next week.
The 38-year-old Herman shot a 5-under 67 Saturday to position himself for a breakthrough. Lovemark, 28 and a former NCAA champion at USC whose professional career was derailed by major back surgery, wasn’t able to build on his fast start, which saw him birdie three of the first four holes. He stayed in the hunt with a 70 after opening rounds of 67 and 68.
Herman and Lovemark were at 11 under par through 54 holes and just a stroke ahead of Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson and Russell Hensley. The Swede Stenson, No. 7 in the current world ranking, posted the day’s best round with a 66 after also birdieing three of the first four holes. Henley had a 68 Saturday and Johnson a 70.
The two players ahead of Stenson in the world ranking, No. 2 Jordan Spieth and No. 5 Rickie Fowler, remained in contention at 6 under and 7 under, respectively, after both carding 70s.
NFL
CLEVELAND –The Browns released veteran safety Donte Whitner.
The 30-year-old Whitner is the latest starter to be discarded by Cleveland’s new front office, which recently released linebacker Karlos Dansby, the team’s leading tackler last season. The Browns also chose not to re-sign starters Alex Mack, Mitchell Schwartz, Tashaun Gipson or Travis Benjamin in free agency.
A Cleveland native, Whitner started 14 games last season and 30 in his two years with the Browns, who signed him as a free agent in 2014. Known for his punishing hits, Whitner made the Pro Bowl in 2014 but didn’t play as well last season, when the Browns’ secondary was ravaged by injuries.
His departure and the loss of Gipson means the Browns are without their primary starting safeties from 2015. Jordan Poyer will compete for a starting job this year and the club will likely address the position in the draft.
NEW YORK – Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has a concussion and did not travel to New York for Saturday’s game against the Islanders.
Coach Mike Sullivan said before the game that Fleury was not feeling well Friday and was sent to see team doctors. The coach said the concussion diagnosis came that afternoon. This is Fleury’s second concussion this season. He missed eight games in December with post-concussion symptoms.
Sullivan says Matt Murray will start in goal against the Islanders, with Jeff Zatkoff the backup.
Pittsburgh is on the verge of clinching its 10th straight playoff appearance, and Fleury has been key. He has a 35-17-6 record in 58 games with a 2.29 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – All-Star closer Brad Boxberger will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list for the Tampa Bay Rays.
The move Saturday was expected. Boxberger is recovering from groin surgery after being injured during spring training.
Right-hander Alex Cobb, who missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was also placed on the 15-day DL. The Rays put right-hander Chase Whitley (elbow surgery) on the 60-day DL in February.
In other moves Saturday, outfielder Mike Mahtook and right-hander RH Andrew Bellatti were optioned to Triple-A Durham. The Rays also purchased the contract of left-handed reliever Dana Eveland.
Meanwhile, first baseman James Loney was told he won’t make the opening day roster. President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman said his status will be determined by noon Sunday, hours before the Rays start the season against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Baseball
Rockies choose McGee as closer, Bergman as No. 5 starter
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Colorado Rockies will use left-hander Jake McGee as their closer and right-hander Christian Bergman as the No. 5 starter to begin the season.
Manager Walt Weiss also announced Saturday that outfielder Brandon Barnes and left-hander Jason Gurka will make the 25-man roster.
Right-handers Scott Oberg and Gonzalez Germen were sent to Triple-A Albuquerque.
McGee won the closer’s job in part because right-hander Jason Motte will start the season on the disabled list with a sore shoulder.
Right-hander Jon Gray’s abdominal strain opened a rotation spot for Bergman, although he won’t start until the middle of the month due to Colorado’s early off days.
Left-hander Tyler Anderson and infielder Daniel Descalso are also likely headed to the DL when the Rockies announce their 25-man roster Sunday.
Women’s college basketball
Stewart is Player of the Year for third time
INDIANAPOLIS – UConn’s Breanna Stewart is the Associated Press Player of the Year in women’s college basketball for a record third time.
Stewart was a unanimous choice Saturday, the first time that’s happened since the first award in 1995. Ralph Sampson of Virginia was the only men’s basketball player to win the award three times.
Voting was done before the NCAA Tournament and by the 32-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25 poll.
Stewart won the award as a sophomore and junior as well and has helped UConn to victories in its past 73 games. She is the only women’s basketball player with 400 assists and 400 blocks for her career. She has won 149 games over the past four seasons. Two more wins will give her four championships and the most victories ever.
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Kyle Busch held off John Hunter Nemechek in a two-lap overtime restart and won the NASCAR trucks race at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, his first victory in 31 career starts on the 0.526-mile oval.
Busch, who was saving his last set of fresh tires for an opportune time inside the final 50 laps, never got one and won despite driving the last 115 laps on the same tires. Most of the rest of the field had tires that were at least 30 laps newer, but a series of late restarts worked in Busch’s favor and he ended his Martinsville drought.
Nemecheck got second and Busch’s teammate, William Byron was third, followed by Kyle Larson and Timothy Peters.
Busch won for the 45th time in one of NASCAR’s three top series and became the third different winner in as many races this year.