Post by lingzi on Sept 7, 2012 8:00:59 GMT 1
CROMWELL, Conn. Youth Santonio Holmes Jersey . - River Highlands has been the sight of the first PGA Tour win for four of its last six tournament champions. Roland Thatcher and Englishman Brian Davis would like to make it five of seven. Davis shot a 6-under 64, and Thatcher had a 65 on Saturday to share the third-round lead in the Travelers Championship at 12 under. Davis said hes not sure why this tournament, which comes a week after the U.S. Open, has been so good to relative unknowns. "Obviously, some of the big players arent here, but there is still a really good field here," Davis said. "Its just one of them things. Ive had a couple of weeks off, maybe Im not as tired as the other guys. But, Ill take my win anywhere. I dont care where it is." Davis made an early move, shooting a 29 on the front nine with six birdies. Thatcher overtook him with three straight birdies on the back nine and had a one-stroke lead before missing a 7-foot par putt on the 17th hole. "I executed just really well in that stretch," Thatcher said. "Its easy to say theyre easy holes, and thats what you should do, but you still have to execute." Seventeen other players were within five strokes of the lead entering the final round. John Rollins, James Driscoll and Stuart Appleby were two strokes back. Defending champion Fredrik Jacobson, who led after two rounds, shot an even-par 70 to remain at 9 under. Davis said his fast start was helped by the thunderstorms that pushed the finish of the second round to Saturday morning and softened up the greens. "I didnt even realize I had shot 29," said Davis, who has been a runner-up on the PGA Tour five times. "I was just playing and everything was going right. Then obviously we hit the turn and we had the wind pick up for about three holes and it was playing tough all of the sudden." The first-time winners at River Highlands include Jacobson last year, Bubba Watson (2010), Hunter Mahan (2007) and J.J. Henry (2006). But Thatcher said hes not worried about that. "I figure when I play well, Ill play well and hopefully its going to be enough to keep the job every year," he said. "This week will go a long way towards that." Appleby, by contrast, is looking for his 10th tour win after making just one bogey in his round. The 41-year-old Australian said hes happy to be considered the old veteran among the young guns vying for the championship. "It would be good to get back in the winners circle, he said. "The only cut Ive made has been shaving for a long time. I played better golf when I was a rookie out here, and thats just not right." Jacobson recovered from a bogey on 17 to birdie the final hole and stay within striking distance as he attempts to join Phil Mickelson, the 2001 and 2002 winner, as the only players to successfully defend a title at River Highlands. "Im really happy being three behind going into tomorrow rather than five or six," he said. "Ill take the positives." Watson also is in the mix, one of four players at 8-under par. He had a 15-foot birdie putt to go 10-under at the 17th hole, but hit the ball five feet past the hole and then missed the return shot. "It broke about 6 feet, maybe a gust of wind or something, and then when I putted it back up it either bounced or broke right and it shouldnt do that, obviously, because it went one way and then the other," Watson said. Seventy-seven players spent Saturday morning finishing their second rounds after thunderstorms halted play early on Friday. J.B. Holmes, who underwent brain surgery last September, finished the morning with 62, the second best round of his career. But he followed that a few hours later with a 75 and was nine strokes behind the leaders. Camilo Villegas shot a second round 64 and shot 70 on Saturday afternoon. Villegas, who has three top-25 finishes this season, was four behind the leaders. "Its nice to see my name up on the leader board," he said. "Its been a tough year and its always good to play good." Eighty-eight players made the cut at even par. But former UCLA star Patrick Cantlay wasnt among them. He shot a 67 on Saturday morning to finish 2 over in the first tournament of his professional career. "I struggled on the first day and never really recovered," he said. Philip Rivers Elite Jersey . At the same time, the Dallas Stars thought they had a legitimate shot at winning a championship but they had a decision to make. Do they give up a potential franchise player to acquire a veteran that could put them over the top? It was the definition of a present-for-future type of deal. Terrence Cody Womens Jersey . Shipley tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Sept. 18. He was limited during drills in the off-season and wasnt allowed to practice when training camp opened on Friday. Youth Mark Sanchez Jersey . - Mixed martial arts fighter and reality show host Jason (Mayhem) Miller was in jail on suspicion of burglary Monday night after deputies responding to reports of a break-in said they found him naked inside a Southern California church. Aaron Hernandez Jersey Womens . Rondo scored. The Heat answered. Then again. And again. Eventually, Rondo missed, one of the rare times he didnt deliver on an unforgettable night. Trent Richardson Browns Jersey . -- Chris Wondolowski scored his MLS-leading 14th goal to cap a wild comeback and the San Jose Earthquakes beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 4-3 Saturday.MONTREAL -- The Canadian Grand Prix may be just what Lewis Hamilton needs to fix a disappointing start to the Formula One season. Two of the McLaren Mercedes drivers 17 career victories have come on the tightly cornered Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and he won pole position in three of his four previous visits. On Friday, the Englishman was quickest again during two 90-minute practice sessions, a good omen for the 2008 world champion who is seeking his first victory in a season in which it seems that everyone else is getting wins. "Its a circuit I do enjoy," said Hamilton, whose best results this year are third place finishes in the first three races. "The crowd is incredible every time I come here. "As soon as I leave the pits I see the crowd stand up and wave and I try to show them acknowledgment. Its been that way every time Ive been here. They really do give me a great boost. I hope that continues." There have been six different winners in six races this year and Hamilton hopes to extend that record to seven. He certainly had the pace on one of the unique tracks in the series, a 4.361-kilometre layout that features long straightaways leading to tight turns that can play havoc with brakes and engines. He led the morning session with a best lap of one minute 15.564 seconds, then bettered that on super-soft tires in the second at 1:15.259, just ahead of championship leader Fernando Alonsos Ferrari at 1:15.313. There will be one more practice on Saturday before qualifying, where he will attempt to take pole position for a fourth time, two short of German star Michael Schumachers race record. "I feel positive for the weekend," the 27-year-old said. "I try not to come into weekends with confidence or anything like that. "I come in as best prepared as I can possibly be and make sure my head is down and I just continue to improve with the car and the track." Hamilton will no doubt also wish to erase the memory of last years Canadian Grand Prix, when he was bumped off the track and out of the race in the opening minutes by teammate Jenson Button, who went on to win a wild, rain-soaked the race. Rain threatened again on Friday, but held off just long enough to get the two sessions in before it came down in a deluge of thunder and lightning. Sunny skies are forecast for qualifying and for the race on Sunday afternoon. Practice is more about testing tires, finding the right engine set-up and getting used to the track, so fast speeds dont always tell who will win. Alonso said Ferrari spent the morning evaluating new tweaks to the car and the afternoon comparing performance with different fuel loads and the two tire compounds teams are allotted by Pirelli. Haloti Ngata Nike Jersey. "Now we must prepare as much as well as possible for the weekend," said the 2005 and 2006 world champion. "The circuit is very similar to a street circuit, with the walls very close to what are normal roads. "It therefore becomes very important to find the right reference points, especially in terms of braking points and how far one is from the walls, in order both to put together a quick lap and drive smoothly over a long distance." Alonsos teammate Felipe Massa, whose job is reportedly in jeopardy as he languishes in 14th place in driver standings, was third fastest. He was followed by two-time defending F1 champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull racing, who is gunning for a first win in Canada after being passed by Button on the final lap a year ago. A sign of how unpredictable the 2012 season has been was that Paul Di Resta of the Force India team, who is in 11th place, was fifth fastest while Saubers Kamui Kobayashi was sixth, just ahead of Schumachers AMG Petronas Mercedes. It was a difficult day for Button, who got in only 12 laps in the morning before developing gear box trouble. The Briton did not get out again until late in the second session, but managed to place ninth, just behind Chinese GP winner Nico Rosbergs AMG Petronas Mercedes. Vettels teammate Mark Webber also struggled in 12th place. Race officials issued a reprimand to Vettel for causing a collision with Bruno Sennas Williams on the final chicane before the start-finish line. And Sergio Perez of Sauber was fined 1,200 Euros ($1,545) for speeding in pit lane. The slippery track saw Caterhams Heikki Kovalainen slide into a wall at turn-8 in the morning practice, scattering debris across the track and forcing a 12-minute delay. The Finnish driver was unhurt. The Renault-powered car was badly damaged on the right side, but was fixed in time to return partway through the afternoon run. Senna put his Williams into the infamous Wall of Champions, the final turn on the track, forcing a 13-minute delay in the afternoon session. He was unhurt. There were no signs of the protesters who tried to disrupt a Grand Prix charity cocktail event on Thursday night that led to several arrests. The city has seen nightly demonstrations for several weeks by students and others opposed to university tuition hikes. Instead, the mischief came from animals that live near the track, which is in a island park across from the downtown area. A fox ran onto the asphalt, but managed to duck under a barrier in time to avoid any cars. Later, a squirrel jumped a barrier ahead of Kimi Raikkonens onrushing Lotus and a groundhog made it across the track safely. ' ' '