Associated Press
SYLVANIA, Ohio ó Just like the last two weeks, Paula Creamer didn’t play well in the final round of a tournament.
This time, she didn’t have to.
Creamer shot a 2-over 73 Sunday and did just enough to make a big lead stand, going wire-to-wire to win the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic by two strokes.
“I learned you have to stay in your own world,” Creamer said after capturing her seventh career win and third this year. “It doesn’t matter what other people do until you’re walking down the 18th fairway.”
Creamer, who won $195,000, had worse scores every day after breaking the tournament record with an 11-under 60 in the first round. She followed that with a 65 and a 70 to finish at 16-under 268, two shots better than Nicole Castrale who closed fast with a 64.
– LUSS, Scotland ó Graeme McDowell won the Scottish Open with three straight birdies on the back nine for a 3-under 68 and a two-stroke victory.
Phil Mickelson had a 73 and finished 11 shots off the lead in a tie for 38th.
– BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. ó Rick Price defeated Chris Anderson on the second playoff hole of the Nationwide Tour Players Cup on Sunday and earned his PGA Tour card for next season.
The 40-year-old Price collected $180,000, the richest paycheck in the Nationwide Tour’s 19-year history and, guaranteed himself a spot among the top-25 money winners on the circuit who will earn PGA Tour cards for 2009.
IRL
GLADEVILLE, Tenn. ó Ana Beatriz of Brazil became the first woman to win on the Firestone Indy Lights Series, taking the rain-delayed Sunbelt Rentals 100 at the Nashville Superspeedway.
Beatriz is one of five women who have taken part in the series, that started in 2002, to help develop drivers for the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar series. She had finished as high as third three times previously this year.
NHRA
MORRISON, Colo. ó The trimming of the track did nothing to neutralize the nitro cars.
Racing on a 1,000-foot strip for the first time in NHRA history, Top Fuel dragster Tony Schumacher and Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson won their respective classes Sunday during the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
SOCCER
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. ó Amy Rodriguez scored in the 71st minute to give the U.S. women’s soccer team a 1-0 win over Brazil in an exhibition match Sunday.
The U.S., which has posted shutouts in its last six games, is now 20-0-1 in 2008. The two teams meet again Wednesday in San Diego in their last match before the Olympics start next month in Beijing. The U.S. faces Norway on Aug. 6 in its first Olympic match.
CYCLING
BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France ó Italy’s Riccardo Ricco showed his strength in the mountains Sunday by winning the ninth stage of the Tour de France while Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen kept the yellow jersey as riders entered the Pyrenees.
NBA
WASHINGTON ó Gilbert Arenas signed his six-year, $111 million contract with the Washington Wizards on Sunday, securing the return of a franchise player who is accepting less money than he was offered.
Arenas and the Wizards agreed to the deal July 3, but both sides waited until Arenas returned from an overseas trip to settle the details.
“Today is a great day for the Wizards organization,” team president Ernie Grunfeld said. “Gilbert is a phenomenal player and his value to the franchise goes beyond what he brings to the court.”
HALL OF FAME
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó Former Louisiana Tech and Baylor coach Sonja Hogg will be among the inductees in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2009 class.
The new class also includes Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Jennifer Azzi, Jennifer Gillom, Jill Hutchison and Ora Washington.