In brief: Watson leads crowded pack at TPC Boston
Golf: Even after three wins over the last 15 months, Bubba Watson still gets nervous going into the final round with a chance to win. At least he has some company at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
A lot of company.
Right when Watson looked as though he might pull away Sunday at the TPC Boston, the wind became strong enough to make him think twice about the shots he wanted to hit. Three of them didn’t turn out real well and led to bogeys. He at least managed one more birdie for a 1-under 70 and the lead going into the last round.
Watson was one shot ahead of five players. Another five players were two shots behind. Seven other players were three shots behind. And even Phil Mickelson, who started the round 11 shots behind, suddenly was only four back.
“Anybody has a chance,” Watson said.
Watson likes his chances just a little bit better. Despite the wind causing some indecision on the back nine, he still rifled a 3-iron into the fairway and a wedge to 8 feet for birdie on the 17th to get some separation, even if it was just a single shot.
Even so, the Labor Day finish figures to be wide open.
Catchings helps Fever bring down Sky
WNBA: Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas scored 17 points each to help the Indiana Fever hold off the Chicago Sky 88-80 in Rosemont, Ill.
Indiana retained its half-game lead on the second-place Connecticut Sun in the Eastern Conference with three games to go.
Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga) came off the bench to add seven points, two assists and a rebound over 12 minutes.
The Sky were eliminated from playoff contention earlier when Atlanta clinched the East’s fourth and final berth with a win over Tulsa.
Cobo takes lead at Spanish Vuelta
Cycling: Spanish rider Juan Jose Cobo took over the lead in the Spanish Vuelta from Bradley Wiggins after winning a grueling mountain stage.
The 30-year-old Cobo, who had moved into striking distance on Saturday, finished the 88-mile mountain course starting in Aviles, Spain, in 4 hours, 1 minute, 56 seconds.
Dutch rider Wouter Poels came in 48 seconds later, along with two-time winner Denis Menchov of Russia.
Wiggins, who led for the previous four days, was fifth – 1 minute, 21 seconds behind.
Grace Hall wins 120th Spinaway Stakes
Horse racing: Grace Hall edged favored Judy the Beauty by 1 3/4 lengths in the 120th running of the $250,000 Spinaway Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga (N.Y.) Race Course.
Ramon Dominguez rode the Anthony Dutrow-trained Grace Hall, undefeated in two starts after running 7 furlongs in 1:23.74. She earned $150,000 for her owners, Michael Dubb and the Bethlehem Stables.
Grace Hall paid $8.80, $3.90 and $2.50. Judy the Beauty, who saw her career winning streak snapped at three, returned $3.80 and $3. And Why Not paid $4 to show.
Florida A&M athlete stabbed to death
Miscellany: Authorities say Shannon Washington, a student athlete and member of the women’s basketball team at Florida A&M University, died after she was stabbed in the neck in Tallahassee, Fla.
Police said they were summoned about 2 a.m. and found Washington, who was taken to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, where she died.
They said 20-year-old Starquineshia Palmer was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Police said the two had been arguing when Washington was stabbed.
• Family, friends gather to remember Belak: Wade Belak’s family members, friends and former teammates gathered for a private ceremony at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville, Tenn., to remember the former NHL player.
The 35-year-old Belak was found dead Wednesday at a luxury condo and hotel building in Toronto.
A veteran of 14 NHL seasons, Belak played in 549 games with five teams, most recently the Nashville Predators.
Tie Domi, who played with Belak for five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, remembered the friend who sat next to him in the Maple Leafs’ locker room.
“He was a very special guy and was loved by everyone,” Domi said. “He was a teammate, a great, great teammate. He was a special kid.”
Away from the rink, Belak was active in the Nashville community. He routinely visited schools and hospitals and also was a volunteer firefighter in nearby Williamson County.
Belak is survived by wife Jennifer and daughters Andie and Alex.