Kingston takes home title as Wilson falters
Golf Oliver Wilson, the Englishman who led the South African Open going into the final day, was unable to fend off the challenge of James Kingston yesterday in a rain-drenched final round in Paarl. Play was suspended for nearly four hours after persistent rain overnight made the course unplayable.
Kingston, the South African, recorded a final round of 71 for a total score of four under par, one better than Wilson. Darren Clarke, the Ulsterman, finished one under par after an excellent final round of 68. Greg Norman capped an impressive week by finishing in equal seventh, level par for the championship.
Lions to face Eagles
Basketball Milton Keynes Lions will face Newcastle Eagles in the BBL Cup final next month after both sides won their semi-final matches in Crawley, West Sussex, on Saturday. The Lions defeated the Guildford Heat, the holders, 91-80, with Yorick Williams scoring 26 points, to reach the second final in their history. Newcastle joined Milton Keynes in the final after a 75-69 win over Scottish Rocks.
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Joyon’s record
Sailing Francis Joyon, on IDEC II, broke another record yesterday in his solo round-the-world record attempt and is now almost seven days ahead of Ellen MacArthur’s schedule in 2004. IDEC II became the fastest yacht between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin, taking just seven days, eight hours and 12 minutes across the difficult Southern Ocean stretch.
Grinstead perfection
Hockey East Grinstead men made the perfect start in their attempt to reach the finals of the National Indoor Championship for a third successive year when they finished top of the table in the opening round of the event with maximum points. Slough, the holders, topped the women’s event with four wins. The next round is on January 12-13. The top four clubs go to the finals in Birmingham on January 27.
Kennedy regains title
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Bowls Noel Kennedy has regained the Hong Kong International pairs title, which he last won in 1988. Kennedy and Ken Chan, of Hong Kong, defeated Mark Harding and Steve Harris, of Wales, 17-15 in the final at the Kowloon Bowling Green Club yesterday. The Welshmen dashed England’s hopes in the semi-finals, when they defeated Mervyn King and Neil Hope 17-16.
Northeast revival
Rackets Sam Northeast, the England under19 cricketer, staged a superb recovery to win the Neptune National Schools Senior Championship at Queen’s Club. Northeast, the favourite, trailed 2-0 to the No 2 seed, Dan Shiner, of Cheltenham. Despite falling behind in the third game, Northeast showed great spirit to level the match then took charge in the decider to win 5-15, 6-15, 15-8, 15-5, 15-1.
Favre passes Marino
American football Brett Favre, the Green Bay Packers quarterback, became the NFL’s career leader in passing yards when he guided his team to a 33-14 victory over the St Louis Rams yesterday. Favre, 38, in his 17th season, completed 19 of 30 passes for 227 yards to bring his total to 61,405. Dan Marino, the former Miami Dolphins quarterback, held the previous record of 61,361 yards.
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West Indise cruise
Cricket The West Indies fast bowlers helped their team to a five-wicket win against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in the only Twenty20 international of the West Indies’ tour. In a match reduced to 13 overs each after intermittent rain fell at St George’s Park, South Africa collapsed to 12 for six before recovering to 58-8. In reply, West Indies reached their target in the tenth over.