|
COLOGNE, Germany -- Fabrizio Zanotti won a four-way playoff to take the BMW International Open title Sunday and become the first player from Paraguay to win on the European Tour. Zanotti won when No. 2-ranked Henrik Stenson conceded after failing to make a bunker shot on the fifth playoff hole. Gregory Havret of France and Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain went out on the second and fourth, respectively. The 31-year-old Zanotti earlier made seven birdies for a 7-under 65 final round to finish on 19-under 269 on the Gut Laerchenhof course. It was his second successive 65 after rounds of 72 and then 67. Stenson came close to snatching victory before the playoff but had to be content with par on the last hole. The Swede made up for two bogeys with five birdies and an eagle. He came agonizingly close to ending the playoff at the first hole. Cabrera-Bello earned his playoff place with a birdie-eagle-birdie finish. He almost made an eagle to end the playoff at the third hole as the rain began falling. Overnight leader Pablo Larrazabal, who held a three-stroke advantage, could only finish tied for eighth on 17 under after two bogeys - the Spaniards first missed shots of the week - and two birdies gave him a final round of 72. Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Simon Dyson of England and Welshman Jamie Donaldson finished tied for fifth on 18 under, ahead of former champions Larrazabal (2011), Danny Willett (2012), Thomas Bjorn (2000 and 2002) and Argentinas Emiliano Grillo. Spains Sergio Garcia, Irelands Shane Lowry, Englands Paul Waring and Alex Cejka - the highest placed German - were in a group of 10 players tied for 12th. James Heath scored a hole in one on the 16th hole to win a sports car. The Englishman finished 11-under 277 overall. . "After consultation with the Team USA medical staff and officials, it was determined that he should return to Winnipeg as a precaution due to his previous injury history," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday in a statement. . The goals took Liverpools tally in the Premier League this season to 70, overtaking Manchester City as the top scorers, and left the fourth-place team just four points behind league leader Chelsea. .com) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right elbow last week, the teams official site reported Wednesday. . - The New Orleans Saints have re-signed receiver Joseph Morgan for one year and have agreed to a four-year deal with free agent fullback Erik Lorig. . The defeat leaves the 41-year-old Nestor to concentrate on the mixed-doubles event after winning 12 straight matches and winning Australian titles in Brisbane and Sydney with two different partners. "This was a little bit of a let down, but all credit to them," said Nestor.BOSTON -- Charlottes Al Jefferson got his usual nice round of applause from Boston fans during pregame introductions. Then he showed why they liked him so much when he wore green. Jefferson was a tough matchup for Bostons inside players, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead the Bobcats to an 89-83 win Wednesday night that snapped the Celtics four-game winning streak. In his second game back after missing five straight with a bruised right ankle, Bostons 2004 first-round pick helped Charlotte hold off a few late charges by the Celtics. Jefferson, who was taken 15th overall by the Celtics and played three seasons in Boston, was part of the deal in the summer of 2007 that brought Kevin Garnett to the Celtics from Minnesota. "Hes an elite low-post scorer and hes a much, much better defender than I had realized," Bobcats first-year coach Steve Clifford said of Jefferson. "But the thing thats coming through now as you watch him is his competitiveness. He badly wants to win." Gerald Henderson had 13 points, Jeff Taylor 12 and Anthony Tolliver had 11 for Charlotte, which ended a two-game skid. Jefferson said it was the first time hes been on a team that beat the Celtics. "A long time coming," he said. "Been so close many times." Jefferson feels like hes just getting his game back after being sidelined. "I still missed a lot of shots I normally would make," he said of his 8-for-17 shooting. "Ive got to get in better shape. I know theres a reason that Im not in top shape. Thats the only bad thing about getting hurt in the beginning of the year." Jeff Green paced Boston with 19 points and Jordan Crawford had 16 points and six assists. "We made some runs, but I never felt like that game -- you sit over there and Ive been through not a lot of NBA games, but a lot of basketball games, and there are certain games where you feel like the other team has got you in a little bit of a stranglehold," Boston first-year coach Brad Stevens said. "Thats the way it was. They had their way for most of the night." Both teams were without key big men. Celtics forward Jared Sullinger was out with a bruised right knee and Bobcats forward Josh McRoberts missed the game for personal reasons. Hes expected to play Friday when Charlotte is at Cleveland. It was Cliffords second game back after having two stents placed in his heart last week. One of thhe biggest ovations of the night came when free-agent first baseman Mike Napoli, a member of the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox, was shown on the Jumbotron in the opening quarter.dddddddddddd He was seated at courtside, left at halftime and returned late in the third quarter to another nice hand from the fans seated nearby. The Bobcats led 71-64 after three quarters. Boston twice closed it to three midway into the fourth before Tolliver nailed a shot-clock beating 3 with 5:37 to play. Neither team scored for the next 2 minutes before Jeffersons short jumper pushed the Bobcats ahead by six with 2:36 left. Green then converted a three-point play, getting Boston within 85-80 with 1:26 to go, but the Celtics struggled to score after missing 12 of their first 16 shots in the final quarter. Crawfords three-point play closed it to 85-83 with 32.5 seconds left, but Jefferson had a putback off Kemba Walkers miss to seal it. But Crawford felt like the Bobcats just played harder for most of the night. "They beat us with effort. They beat us to all the loose balls and rebounds," he said. "Its not really (a game) to throw away. Its one to look at to see where we can get better. We just started off slow and couldnt get any loose balls." Charlotte led 51-43 at halftime. The start of the third quarter was filled with whistles and sloppy play, taking away any energy from the crowd. Boston narrowed its deficit to 67-64 late in the third before the Bobcats scored the final four points. In the fourth quarter, Napoli was selected as the "fan of the game," getting another loud ovation. The Bobcats opened the second quarter with a 12-2 run, pulling ahead 39-23 on Taylors two free throws 4 1/2 minutes into the period. After shooting over 60 per cent in the first quarter (61.1), Charlotte made just 28 per cent (7 of 25) in the second. NOTES: Stevens said Sullinger is day-to-day. He had an MRI on Tuesday. The former Butler coach said he watched "very little" of the college doubleheader Tuesday night that featured some of the top players in the country when four of the top five of the APs Top 25 were in action. ... Tolliver started in place of McRoberts and hit two 3s in the opening quarter. ... Napoli said, "No, not yet" when asked if hes heard from the Red Sox about a contract offer while he was seated and signing autographs during a timeout in the third quarter. ' ' ' then of the Cardinals, at 42. ' ' '
|
