sports in brief

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jul 13, 2008

Golf: Three-way tie for firstat the John Deere Classic

Kenny Perry finished with a flourish to move into a three-way tie for the lead through three rounds at the John Deere Classic on Saturday.

Perry, seeking his third victory in five starts, birdied the 18th hole to finish at 4-under 67 for the day and 15-under 198 for the tournament. That tied him with Eric Axley (67) and Brad Adamonis (66), who at 35 is the PGA Tour's oldest rookie.

Jay Williamson (62) and second-round leader Will MacKenzie (70) were one stroke back.

Perry was at 15-under after sinking a nine-foot birdie putt on the par-4 14th before hitting trouble on the 15th, hitting rough off the tee and two-putting from nine feet for a bogey. But he made up for it on the 18th, when his approach nearly hit the pin before settling just under six feet to its left.

PAULA CREAMER shot a 1-under-par 70, 10 more shots than she needed for her first round, and held a four-stroke lead after three rounds of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.

Creamer, who set the course record with her opening 60, was at 18- under 195 through 54 holes at Highland Meadows. The 21-year-old Californian had a 65 in the second round.

South Korea's Eun-Hee Ji was in second place, as she has been after all three rounds. She shot a 68 to cut two strokes off of Creamer's lead.

She could easily have made an even bigger dent in the lead. Ji cut it to three strokes when she birdied the 11th hole while Creamer, playing in the same group, was three-putting for a bogey. Creamer recovered with birdies at the 13th and 17th holes. Ji was 1 under for the final seven holes and missed two birdie putts inside 10 feet.

Playing her first full year on the tour, Ji missed a 10-footer at No. 16. Then, moments after Creamer saved par with a 7-foot putt at the closing hole, Ji missed a 6-footer for birdie.

Rachel Hetherington had a 67 and was alone in third at 202. Karrie Webb made the biggest move of the day, shooting a 62 to climb into a tie for fourth with Chinese rookie Shanshan Feng, who shot a 64.

GRAEME MCDOWELL AND SIMON KHAN shared the Scottish Open lead and Phil Mickelson was six shots back after the third round.

McDowell shot a 5-under 66 and Simon Khan a 68 to take a one- stroke lead. Both bogeyed the short 17th hole at Loch Lomond, but McDowell birdied the last to draw even with Khan at 10-under 203.

Mickelson had five birdies and five bogeys for a 71 a day after his hole-in-one helped him make the cut.

Four players were at 204, including last week's winner of the European Open, Ross Fisher (68). The others were Miguel-Angel Jimenez (68), Jeev Milka Singh (69) and Richard Green (70).

General: Dixon wins rain-filled IRL race at Nashville

Scott Dixon grabbed the lead on lap 149 and had enough fuel to stay there until rain ended the Firestone Indy 200 with 29 laps left, giving him his third consecutive victory at the Nashville Superspeedway and his fourth this season.

Miscommunication kept Dixon from pitting along with leader Tony Kanaan, helping him grab the lead.

Dixon won his 14th career victory and the 100th overall in motorsports for Chip Ganassi Racing. Dixon also expanded his lead over Castroneves in the points race from 48 to 63.

Wladimir Klitschko knocked out former sparring partner Tony Thompson in the 11th round to successfully defend his heavyweight titles Saturday.

Klitschko (51-3, 45 knockouts) turned boos to cheers, sending the American to the canvas with a right hand 1:38 into the 11th. He redeemed himself after an ugly 10th in which he pushed Thompson to the canvas and fell on him.

Klitschko's ninth straight win was tougher than expected, as he had to survive a second-round head-butt that left both fighters bleeding at the right eye.

Cory McClenathan kept the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel on Saturday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also No. 1 qualifiers for today's elimination rounds.

Michael Chang finds it appropriate he's receiving his sport's highest honor as China awaits the Olympics.

Chang was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday and reflected on his experiences as a Chinese-American athlete. He won the 1989 French Open at age 17 -- the youngest man to win a major.

Florida safeties Dorian Munroe and John Curtis will miss the upcoming season because of knee injuries.

Munroe tore the ACL in his right knee and will have season- ending surgery. The junior played in 26 games the last two years and was a key contributor on special teams. He led the Gators with 13 special teams tackles last season.

Curtis tore his left ACL for the third time.

Pele dismissed FIFA president Sepp Blatter's comment that soccer players are often bound to teams in a form of "modern slavery."

Blatter spoke in response to Cristiano Ronaldo's standoff with Manchester United over a move to Real Madrid, saying players seeking a transfer should be allowed to leave. Blatter told Sky News that "in football there is too much modern slavery."