Associated Press
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. ó Brian Gay used a run of five straight birdies to push past Todd Hamilton and take a one-stroke lead at the Verizon Heritage on Friday.
Gay, whose best season came in 2008 with his first victory and more than $2.2 million in earnings, had six birdies on his front nine on his way to a 66. He stood 9-under after two rounds at Harbour Town Golf Links.
Hamilton, the 2004 British Open champion, also shot a 66. He kept up his stellar play from a week ago when he tied for 15th at the Masters.
First-round leader Alex Cejka shot a 71 after an opening 64 and was two shots behind along with two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen.
Janzen’s round of 70 included a hole-in-one on the breezy 17th hole.
– LUTZ, Fla. ó Larry Nelson shot a 6-under 65 to take a one-shot lead over Nick Price after the first round of the Outback Pro-Am on Friday.
– ATHENS, Ga. ó Brendon Todd has made Nationwide Tour history by making a hole-in-one at the same hole two days in a row at the Athens Regional Foundation Classic.
The former Georgia All-American aced the 147-yard 17th hole for the second straight day on Friday, using an 8-iron during the second round at the Jennings Mill Country Club course.
Todd is the first player in the 20-year history of the tour to ace the same hole twice in the same tournament.
NBA
NEW YORK ó The Washington Wizards have won a tiebreaker with the Los Angeles Clippers, giving them a slightly better chance of landing the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
NFL
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. ó The NFL has moved up the start time of the New York Jets’ game against the Tennessee Titans on September 27 after the team complained to the league about having to play home games on consecutive Jewish holidays.
The Jets’ home opener against New England is 1 p.m. on Sept. 20, which falls during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
As a result of the change, the Titans-Jets and Giants-Buccaneers games will be televised head-to-head on different networks.
– BUFFALO, N.Y. ó The Buffalo Bills agreed to trade left tackle Jason Peters to the Philadelphia Eagles rather than risk another offseason holdout from their disgruntled two-time Pro Bowl player.
– DENVER ó New Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins has won the 43rd annual Byron “Whizzer” White award honoring the 13-year veteran’s community work while with the Philadelphia Eagles.
CASTRONEVES
MIAMI ó Brazilian race car driver and “Dancing With The Stars” champ Helio Castroneves was acquitted Friday of most charges that he worked with his sister and lawyer to evade more than $2.3 million in U.S. income taxes.
COLLEGE HOOPS
BRISBANE, Australia ó Saint Mary’s star guard Patty Mills will make himself available for the NBA draft in June, possibly giving up the final two years of his college basketball eligibility in the United States.
Mills, a member of the Australian national team, concluded his second season with the Gaels, averaging career highs of 18.7 points, 4.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.
– TUCSON, Ariz. ó Sean Miller has rounded out his first coaching staff at Arizona by hiring his brother Archie as an assistant.
The 31-year-old Archie Miller, who played for N.C. State, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio State under Thad Motta.
CYCLING
MILAN ó Lance Armstrong has told organizers that he will race in the Giro d’Italia May 9-31.
– Olympic champion Tyler Hamilton, once touted as the next great American cyclist and an heir to Armstrong’s throne, ended his doping-tarnished career Friday by saying he tested positive for a banned substance and would retire.