Associated Press
PARAMUS, N.J. ó Hunter Mahan opened with an unlikely eagle after spinning in a sand wedge from 98 yards and never let up, shooting a 9-under-par 62 Thursday to take the first-round lead at The Barclays in the FedEx Cup playoff opener.
He took a four-stroke lead with a round that included eight birdies at Ridgewood Country Club.
Trying to earn a spot on the Ryder Cup team as one of Paul Azingerís four captainís picks, Mahan hit 11 of 14 fairways, 15 greens in regulation and needed only 23 putts.
Mahan, 31st in the FedEx Cup standings, established the course record in the first PGA Tour round on the A.W. Tillinghast-designed layout ó a composite of Ridgewoodís three nine-hole courses.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. ó A Coastal Carolina football player has been charged with forcing a woman to have sex with him against her will.
The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported Thursday that a police report provided by the school said freshman wide receiver William Chandler is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
STATESBORO, Ga. ó Eight Georgia Southern players, included two projected starters, were suspended for the season opener against No. 1 Georgia for undisclosed violations of school rules.
NFL PRESEASON
CHICAGO ó J.T. OíSullivan made a perfect case to start. Alex Smithís counter-argument didnít measure up.
OíSullivan threw for 126 yards and a touchdown in limited time while Smith struggled, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Chicago Bears 37-30 on Thursday night.
OíSullivan was 7-for-8 with a perfect 158.3 passer rating in his third preseason start. He led the 49ers (2-1 preseason) to field goals on the first two possessions and a two-play, 77-yard touchdown drive on the third one. He hit Vernon Davis with a 40-yard pass and then scrambled to his right before throwing a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jason Hill to give the Niners a 13-10 lead.
Smith, who came on early in the second quarter, was 6-for-17 with 83 yards and a TD.
Bears backup linebacker Rod Wilson left the field on a cart with a right arm injury in the third quarter.