GOLF: Cink, Haas share Houston Open lead
Stewart Cink shot a 4-under 68, giving him a share of the lead with Bill Haas going into the final round of the Houston Open in Humble, Texas. Cink is winless in 75 starts since the 2009 British Open. This is his first time with at least a share of the third-round lead in nearly five years. One week after he shared the 36-hole lead at Bay Hill, Haas made seven birdies over his last 13 holes for a 67 and was tied with Cink at 11-under 205.
Today suddenly becomes loaded with possibilities that might even feature Phil Mickelson. He shot a 67 and is five shots out of the lead. Twenty players were within four shots. Only three — Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley and John Merrick — have won on the PGA Tour in the last year. And 12 of them can earn a trip to the Masters by winning.
MLB: Astros make AL debut tonight vs. Rangers
The Astros will make it official tonight when they face the Rangers: They are an American League team — after 50 years in the NL. Houston has baseball’s lowest payroll and is coming off consecutive 100-loss seasons and many believe it will be difficult for this team to avoid becoming the first to lose at least 106 games in three straight seasons since the expansion Mets did it from 1962-65.
The Diamondbacks completed a five-year, $32.5 million contract agreement with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
ETC.: UConn women advance to NCAA region final
Breanna Stewart and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis each scored 17 points, leading top-seeded Connecticut over Maryland 76-50 in the Bridgeport regional semifinals. The top-seeded Huskies (32-4) will play Kentucky tomorrow night in UConn’s eighth consecutive regional final.
In Las Vegas, Mike Alvarado boxed and punched his way to a narrow but unanimous 12-round decision Sover Brandon Rios in the rematch of their slugfest from five months ago. Alvarado won 115-113 on two scorecards and 114-113 on the other to avenge his seventh-round loss to Rios in October.
Tubby Smith , who was fired by Minnesota last week, is in discussions with Texas Tech to become the Red Raiders next basketball coach. After Billy Gillispie resigned in September, interim coach Chris Walker went 11-20 this season.
Steve Alford was hired as UCLA basketball coach yesterday, spurning New Mexico days after he agreed to a new 10-year deal with the Lobos for a chance to run what he called “the premier basketball program in the country.”
In Key Biscayne, Fla., Serena Williams swept the final 10 games from Maria Sharapova and earned her sixth championship , 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 at the Sony Open .