Cochran and Kenny out in front
Russ Cochran: has a share of the lead in the Senior PGA Championship at the Bellerive Country Club American left-hander Russ Cochran reeled off five birdies in six holes around the turn on the way to a share of the Senior PGA Championship lead in Friday’s second round at Bellerive Country Club.
Cochran, who clinched his maiden major title in the over-50 ranks at the 2011 Senior Open Championship, fired a five-under-par 66 to end the day at seven-under 135, level with Kenny Perry, who also returned a 66.
Japan’s Kiyoshi Murota was two shots off the pace after carding a 70 in tricky gusting winds, with first-round leaders Jay Haas (72) and Duffy Waldorf (72) a further stroke back at four under along with fellow American Loren Roberts (68).
Cochran, who tied for seventh in the 1992 PGA Championship played at Bellerive, has relished playing alongside Perry over the last two days in the first of the season’s five senior majors.
“It’s been a great couple of days,” the 54-year-old after soaring to the top of the leaderboard with a mix of seven birdies and two bogeys.
“We have always pulled for each other and continue to do so.
Good time “My son caddies for me and one of my best friends caddies for Kenny Perry and he’s one of Kenny’s best friends, too.
So we had a good time out there.” Cochran, who began the second round at the par-four 10th, made his stunning move up the leaderboard with birdies at the 17th, 18th, first, third and fourth.
“In this round I had an opportunity to kind of get in a groove and get in a rhythm,” he said.
“Yesterday I didn’t hit it very good.
Today I was right on the money.
Felt like I played a pretty good round.” Perry, a 14-times winner on the PGA Tour who has triumphed twice since competing on the over-50 Champions Tour, was equally thrilled to play in Cochran’s company.
“It’s been pretty neat for me to play alongside him for the last two days and for both of us to play tremendous,” the 52-year-old Perry said after a flawless five-birdie display.
The cut fell at four-over 146 with 80 players advancing to the weekend.
Among those missing out were Mark Calcavecchia, Scott Simpson and Curtis Strange, all former major winners on the PGA Tour.
England wait on injured Clark
Calum Clark: injury doubt for England’s tour of South America England’s medical team will assess the fitness of Northampton flanker Calum Clark on Sunday over fears he may have to miss the tour of Uruguay and Argentina due to an ankle injury.
Clark has already been ruled out of Saturday’s Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham after limping off in Saints’ semi-final victory over Saracens.
The 23-year-old was omitted from England’s 2012 summer tour of South Africa and the autumn internationals that followed after being handed a record 32-week ban for breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins.
This time it is injury that could rule him out and he faces a nervous wait to see if he is passed fit.
A shoulder injury in January meant Clark was unavailable for the whole of the Six Nations campaign but he was selected again for England’s three-match tour of South America.
The tour begins with a match against a combined South American XV in Montevideo on 1 June before England face two Tests against Argentina.
Cornet battles past Bouchard
Alize Cornet: Though to the final in front of her home fans Alize Cornet and Lucie Hradecka both came through tough three-setters to book a date in the final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg.
Home favourite Cornet was pushed hard by Eugenie Bouchard before securing a 7-5, 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 victory in the French tournament.
The clash between the third seed and the Canadian teenager was very evenly match but Cornet came through on the big points, claiming six breaks of serve to her opponent’s three.
She also saved six points in the final set.
Hradecka, meanwhile, fought back from a terrible first set to record a 1-6 6-3 6-1 win against Flavia Pennetta.
Italy’s Pennetta made the much brighter start but collapsed in the deciding set, in which she was broken four times and won just five points on her serve.
FA Women’s Cup final preview
Rachel Yankey: England international will be key for Arsenal Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Arsenal Ladies and Bristol Academy Women battle it out on Sunday as they bid to lift the prestigious FA Women’s Cup trophy.
The Gunners are the strong favourites in the competition having won 11 of their previous 12 FA Women’s Cup finals.
However, Bristol will be no pushovers, with the Vixens proving to be one of the surprise packages in this season’s FAWSL and currently top of the table with the usually dominant Arsenal struggling early on.
Sunday’s final also marks a repeat of the 2011 showpiece in which Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena with goals coming from Julie Fleeting and Kim Little as Bristol admitted the occasion got to some of their players.
The sides have already met this season, just last weekend in fact, and again Shelley Kerr’s Arsenal came out on top after winning 4-2 in their Continental Cup encounter.
However, Bristol rested several big players, particularly sensational Spanish duo Laura del Rio and Natalia Sanchon, as their youngsters battled valiantly against the Gunners.
Manager Mark Sampson will be hopeful of being able to team up his ‘female Michu’ Sanchon with del Rio, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury and is a doubt for the game.
Following their impressive start to their 2013 league campaign, the Academy are in confident mood going into the final at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium with the ultimate prize being a trophy the club have never won before.
But the Gunners are no strangers to the competition and, with the likes of PFA Player of the Year Kim Little in their arsenal, the side are a force to be reckoned with.
Experience will also be a key factor in the game with Arsenal having that steady presence of the left-footed Rachel Yankey, who boasts well over 100 appearances for England.
The 33-year-old has already lifted the FA Cup once before and has several other accolades spanning an impressive career.
Her role could prove pivotal for Arsenal.
Overall, both sides have enjoyed strong performances on the road to the final so it will be a case of who will be able to rise to the big occasion and does not let it get to them.
The final kicks-off at 3pm.
First century for Agathangelou
Andrea Agathangelou: completed his maiden century for Lancashire against Hampshire Only 25 overs were possible at the Ageas Bowl but long enough for Lancashire’s Cypriot-South African batsman Andrea Agathangelou to complete his maiden century for his adopted county.
The 23-year-old made the most of his unexpected opportunity after replacing Simon Katich, who was hit on the head in the warm-up, moving from his overnight 93 to 121 before being run out by Danny Briggs from square leg.
Thanks to the newcomer, Lancashire’s last two wickets added 113 as he and Glen Chapple added 43 for the ninth before a further 70 with last man Simon Kerrigan to frustrate Hampshire, who had been on top for most of the first day.
Lancashire resumed in gloomy, wet conditions at the start of the second day at 252-9 in the 82nd over and James Tomlinson and David Balcombe, who had taken seven of the wickets, found the last pair in no mood to surrender.
Agathangelou needed 20 balls to move to three figures and he dominated the last wicket stand as Kerrigan offered solid, uncompromising support.
Recovery Together they put on a further 43 runs in 17 overs before Agathangelou was stranded by Briggs’ throw but by then Lancashire had fully recovered from a disappointing 182-8 eight after winning the toss.
Balcombe overcame a horrific start in which he conceded 21 from his first three balls of the match to finish with 5-104 but Lancashire had held out for an extra 80 minutes in the process of regaining the initiative.
Kerrigan was unbeaten with 14 at the fall of the last wicket but his part in 22 overs of defiance left Hampshire with an awkward half-hour’s batting before lunch.
Hampshire lost captain Jimmy Adams in the fourth over, leg before to an inswinger from Kyle Hogg.
Michael Carberry and Liam Dawson took Hampshire through to 7-1 from eight overs at lunch, but then came the rain.
Umpires Nigel Cowley and Martin Saggers waited until 5pm before calling off play for the day but they were left with no alternative in the squally showers.
So far, so good for Colsaerts
Nicolas Colsaerts: Belgian well-placed at Wentworth Nicolas Colsaerts is looking forward to the weekend at Wentworth after making a solid start in the BMW PGA Championship.
The 30-year-old Belgian has missed the cut in the last two years but is only four shots behind halfway leader Francisco Molinari on two under after rounds of 72 and 70.
“It was very cold today and the course is playing difficult so it all adds up to a pretty good test out there,” said Colsaerts.
“I thought I did pretty good.
This is one of those weeks when you get yourself into position because everyone will make mistakes and if you can put together a good six or seven holes you can get right up there.
“It was a very long year last year and it took its toll.
I’m still recovering a bit from everything that happened and I can’t wait for my season to kick off.” Colsaerts reached the semi-finals of the preceding World Match Play Championship two years ago before winning it 12 months later.
However he was eliminated in the quarter-finals of last week’s World Match Play in Bulgaria by eventual winner Graeme McDowell.
“I missed the cut here in 2011 and 2012 probably because I had long weeks leading up to the event,” he added.
“I got knocked out early in Bulgaria so I’ve probably come to Wentworth feeling a little more fresh than normal.
“When you add everything up, a few differences here and there can mean a lot against the best players in the world.”
Grace Road match abandoned
Grace Road: Leicestershire’s rain-affected clash against Glamorgan finished in a draw Glamorgan’s hopes of victory over Leicestershire in their LV= County Championship Division Two game were wrecked by the weather, with only 55 minutes of play possible on the final day at Grace Road.
Leicestershire, following on 300 runs behind, added another 49 runs for the loss of one wicket in 12.4 overs and were 182-2 when the game was abandoned as a draw with 28 overs remaining.
Glamorgan collected 10 points from the match and Leicestershire five.
Rain and strong winds throughout the morning meant the sides had to wait until 3.30pm before a start could be made, with Leicestershire on 133 for one and still 167 runs adrift.
Cold It took some sterling work from the groundstaff to make any play possible at all and when the game did start, it was so cold that 10 of the Glamorgan side wore woolly hats.
Only Murray Goodwin had the traditional cricket cap on.
Graham Wagg even kept his “beanie” on to bowl, but it was Michael Hogan who claimed the one wicket to fall.
He had Greg Smith, 62 not out overnight, lbw for 70 to end a second-wicket stand of 58.
Australian Joe Burns hit three fours in his score of 18 while Ned Eckersley added 20 runs to his overnight 23, before heavy rain again swept in and the match was abandoned.
Take a Friend Fishing
Take a Friend Fishing over the next week The ‘Take a Friend Fishing’ campaign is back to encourage keen anglers to take their friends and family fishing.
Through the scheme, run by the Angling Trades Association, you can get a free one-day rod licence (worth 3.75) for your pal to use between May 25th and midnight, June 2nd 2013 and a free day ticket voucher, to allow them to fish at a number of Angling Trust fishery and club member venues.
Download the one-day rod licence voucher here (it needs to be validated online at www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk) Contact your local fishery here and make your own specific arrangements with them – check www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk for a list of day ticket offers.
All you need to do now is print off the rod licence voucher, fill in your details, validate it online at www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk, read the Terms and Conditions, grab your tackle and your voucher and go fishing! Then let us know how you get on by emailing pictures (including venue name, catch details, your info and daytime telephone number) to info@takeafriendfishing.co.uk Jeremy Wade, author, TV presenter of River Monsters and Angling Trust Ambassador said: “The Take a Friend Fishing campaign is a great way for people to learn the angling basics and appreciate the outdoors.
By introducing newcomers to the sport, you pass on a gift that stays with them throughout their lives, taking them to beautiful places to catch exciting fish.” The free rod licence voucher cannot be used to fish for coarse fish on any river, stream or drain in England and Wales between March 15 and June 15 inclusive.
The closed season may apply to some canals and still waters in your area – please check before going fishing.
Ciolek takes lead in Bavaria
Gerald Ciolek moved into the race lead with victory on stage three Britain’s Ben Swift and Geraint Thomas remained in the hunt for overall honours at Bayern Rundfahrt by finishing in fourth and 21st places respectively after Gerald Ciolek had sprinted to victory on stage three.
The duo were thrust right in the mix after some solid work from their industrious Team Sky team-mates, but it was the MTN Qhuebeka man who emerged triumphant by outpacing Arnaud Demare (FDJ) and Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling) in a pulsating finale.
Bonus points accrued on the line saw Ciolek leap to the top of the general classification and open up a six-second advantage over Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge).
Swift, meanwhile, sits 10 seconds back in fourth place overall, with Thomas just three seconds further adrift in sixth.
The third day of action had taken the riders 196.8km in a westerly direction from Viechtach to Kelheim and Blel Kadri (AG2R), Ruben Moreno (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Jerome Cousin (Europcar) broke clear on the day’s first categorised climb.
With 80km in the legs, the trio had edged over six minutes ahead, before Orica-GreenEDGE and Team Sky began working together in the peloton.
With the likes of Joe Dombrowski and Jonathan Tiernan-Locke upping the pace, those time gains were gradually reduced and when the gap had been pegged back to a minute, Kadri shed his collaborators in a solo bid for glory.
The Frenchman’s efforts always appeared in vain, and so it proved when Team Sky went hard to haul him back on the final climb of the day.
By that point the peloton had been noticeably reduced, and only 100 or so riders remained in contact as they dropped into the destination town.
Team Sky stayed at the head of affairs with Lampre-Merida and FDJ as the peloton commenced the final laps in Kelheim, but despite a late flurry from Orica-GreenEDGE, it was MTN Qhuebeka who were celebrating after Ciolek produced a devastating late kick to wrap up his first win since Milan-San Remo in March.
Adams extends Ross contract
Derek Adams: Ross County manager extends contract Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Ross County manager Derek Adams has extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2016.
Adams, who was linked with the Aberdeen job before Derek McInnes replaced Craig Brown, has been in charge at Victoria Park since May 2011.
He led them to promotion from the First Division in 2011/12 and a fifth-placed finish in their first season in the top flight.
The former Motherwell and Aberdeen midfielder, who began his playing career at County, also guided them to the Scottish Cup final in 2010 – where they lost to Dundee United – during his first spell as the club’s manager before joining Hibernian as assistant boss.
Adams told the club’s official website: “I am delighted to extend my stay at Ross County Football Club.
“We are one of the few clubs in Scotland with access to quality training facilities right here at the stadium, and having started my tenure in the Second Division we have been able to build not only a team and a squad but also a culture at the football club.
“Our successes have been built on this ethos, and I think this shows what can be achieved by building a team spirit and putting the players at the heart of the football club.
“I am under no illusions as to the challenges that lie ahead in the coming seasons, but both I and my players relish them and I am delighted to be preparing for them with the added stability this extension to my contract gives us.”
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