OMAHA WORLD-HERALD SPORTS SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2014 • 5C GOLF TENNIS: WIMBLEDON Wiefalters, butstaying All eyes on Andy at Wimbledon thecourseforfi rstmajor Defending champ faces THE ASSOCIATED PRESS big expectations in return PINEHURST, N.C. — In the to site of his biggest win midst of throwing away a four- shot lead, Michelle Wie never LONDON (AP) — Imagine lost sight of the big picture at what the reception will be like Pinehurst No. 2. for Andy Murray on Monday The U.S. Women’s Open rarely when he fi rst strides onto the goes according to plan, and green grass of Centre Court at Saturday was no exception. Wie Wimbledon. knows that from experience, A year ago, Murray became and she settled down with four the fi rst British man since Fred important pars to wind up with a Perry in 1936 to win the singles 54-hole share of the lead for the title at a tournament the locals third time in her career. refer to simply as “The Cham- Wie was a teenager the other pionships,” ending a nation’s two times. Now at 24, she was long wait and sparking talk of a one round away from capturing knighthood. her fi rst major. This year, Murray gets the “I’m just grateful for another THE ASSOCIATED PRESS defending champion’s honor opportunity,” Wie said after Co-leader Michelle Wie shot 2 over of playing the fortnight’s fi rst salvaging a 2-over 72 to tie Amy Saturday at the U.S. Women’s Open. match on the most famous ten- Yang. “Tomorrow I’m going to She has held a share of the 54-hole nis court in the world. Seems play as hard as I can and hope lead three times in her career, but is safe to say that 15,000 or so of for the best.” looking for her fi rst major title. his closest friends will greet Yang, who earned a spot in him with a full-throated roar. the fi nal group for the second (72). Another shot back were So “As the time gets nearer time in three years, didn’t make Yeon Ryu, who played her fi nal and, you know, I get ready to a par until the eighth hole in a 10 holes in 3 under for a 70, Kar- play the fi rst match on Mon- wild round typical of the day. rie Webb, who went the fi nal 12 day, I’ll definitely ... be excited Only a sloppy bogey on the fi nal holes without a bogey for a 70, about it,” Murray said. “I will THE ASSOCIATED PRESS and Lexi Thompson, who started hole cost her the outright lead, be nervous. It (is) an experi- Andy Murray became the fi rst British man since 1936 to win Wimbledon after beating Novak Djokovic last year. though she was more than happy the day in second three strokes ence; something I have never Murray hasn’t reached a tournament fi nal since then, but he made the French Open semifi nals a few weeks ago. with a 68. back of Wie. experienced before. Players They were at 2-under 208, the “Michelle Wie has put a few have talked about it in the past, peers think he’ll be just fi ne. the pressure and expectation,” umphs followed his loss to Fed- only players still under par. of us back into the tournament,” that it’s a great experience. But “The way he’s got himself Djokovic said. “So I expect him erer at Wimbledon that year. In The USGA set the course up Webb said. “Two hours ago, I it can also be a nerve-racking back into shape again, I think to do well.” 2013, Murray beat Djokovic in relative to what the men faced didn’t think I had a shot. I’m one.” he can really believe again. While Murray’s baseline the Wimbledon fi nal to end the last Saturday in the U.S. Open pretty happy about that.” Murray had a slow start this That’s what’s most important game is rather conventional by 77-year drought. when wire-to-wire winner Mar- In other events: season, coming off back sur- now,” said Roger Federer, who today’s standards, his coaching With England’s early elim- tin Kaymer had his only over- » Ryan Moore had an eagle gery, and he hasn’t reached a has won seven of his record decisions have been ground- ination from the World Cup, par round with a 72. It was short and two birdies in a bogey-free fi nal since Wimbledon 50 weeks 17 major championships at breaking. After parting in the attention on “Our Andy” (6,270 yards) but tough because 4-under 66 to take a one-stroke ago. Wimbledon and is coming off a March with Ivan Lendl, Murray at Wimbledon fi gures to be as of the pin positions. lead over Aaron Baddeley in But he showed he’s on the grass title at Halle, Germany. picked former women’s No. 1 strong as ever. That didn’t stop Juli Inkster. the Travelers Championship at way back to peak form by “(Being) defending champion Amelie Mauresmo as a replace- “Anytime you taste what it The 53-year-old Hall of Famer, Cromwell, Connecticut. reaching the semifinals at the is never an easy thing. But ment this month. feels like to win it once, you ob- who has said her 35th appear- Sergio Garcia, K.J. Choi, Scott French Open. then again, he played so well “All I’m interested in is to viously want to win it again. So ance in the Women’s Open Langley and Michael Putnam Performing that well on clay on grass the last few years. ... I be able to help him (reach) his there’s an element of pressure will be her last, had a tourna- were tied for third at 11 under would seem to bode well for would feel comfortable if I was goals,” Mauresmo said. “That’s you put on yourself, for start- ment-best 66 to get into conten- » At Glenview, Illinois, Tom what he can do on grass. Andy at this point.” about it.” ers, because you sort of want to tion. She will be in the penulti- Lehman opened a three-stroke “I expect to play well there. Novak Djokovic, the 2011 Murray, who grew up in Dun- see what that feels like at least mate group, four shots out of the lead in the Champions Tour’s I’m really looking forward to champion and runner-up to blane, Scotland, has made plain one more time,” said ESPN an- going back. I think it will give lead, still dreaming of a third Encompass Championship, Murray last year, agreed. that those aims are primarily alyst John McEnroe, who won me a lot of positive energy,” “I’m sure that Andy, with all about winning more Grand Wimbledon three times. “From Open title that would make her shooting a bogey-free 6-under Murray said. the experience he has play- Slam trophies. that standpoint, he’s going to be by 10 years the oldest Women’s 66 before play was suspended As for how Murray will han- ing in the big matches, and He earned his fi rst at the feeling pressure. Clearly now Open winner. because of a thunderstorm. dle whatever jitters accompany especially here in front of his 2012 U.S. Open, shortly after once people know he can do it, Na Yeon Choi had a 71 and » Finland’s Mikko Ilonen bird- his fi rst trip back to the site of home crowd, understands and winning a gold medal at the they’re going to think he should was in the group with Inkster at ied the fi nal hole for a 2-under 69 his most significant victory, his knows the way how to handle London Olympics. Those tri- do it again.” 2-over 212 along with Stephanie and a one-stroke lead after the Meadow (69) and 18-year-old third round of the Irish Open at amateur Minjee Lee of Australia Cork. AUTO RACING: NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES PUBLINKS Kosch’s quest for 3rd title Gaughanovercomesrainforfi rstwin THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES damp track to dry out; the AJ Allmendinger from the top grooved rain tires are designed starting spot. ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — Toyota-Save Mart 350 runs through familiar foe to work best in full wet condi- Allmendinger seemed to have Tiptoeing at high speed around 2 p.m. Sunday • TNT tions. the pole locked down until Mc- BY STU POSPISIL the next four holes — Kosch said a rain-slicked track under the Sonoma (California) Raceway Slightly heavier rain then be- Murray turned a lap at 96.350 he missed several 15-footers — pressure of a two-lap overtime, WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER gan to fall just before the race’s mph in the fi nal minute of to go to extra holes. Brendan Gaughan handed away got a rare opportunity to race halfway mark, causing the race A third Publinks title in four Saturday’s qualifying session. It After they parred the fi rst ex- the lead to Chase Elliott. Then in the rain. It was the third to go under caution for a few years for Wes Kosch won’t come broke the record of 95.262 mph tra hole, Kosch hit an approach he snatched it right back a few time in Nationwide history that laps before instructing teams to easy. set by Marcos Ambrose in 2012. shot from 125 yards to 3 feet on corners later. grooved rain tires have been put on rain tires — resulting in The Ralston High golf coach “Great lap, I am so excited,” the course’s par-4 second hole. He’d still have two more used in a race. a rare test of NASCAR drivers’ meets qualifying winner An- McMurray said. “I thought Hillyard, who was about 50 drivers to hold off on the fi nal The rain added a tense new skills in the rain. drew Hansen, a Boston College our car in race trim was really feet away, three-putted and lap — including a last-ditch dimension to racing at Road “It was ridiculous,” Elliott sophomore, in Sunday’s 36-hole good, really good on the long conceded Kosch’s putt for the charge from Alex Tagliani, the America, a four-mile road said. “It really was. It was a match in the Don Lee Champion- runs. We’re not going to change match. man who appeared to have the course where the Nationwide handful.” ship Flight. “I’ve been playing good, as race all but won with a little Series already had shown an a whole lot, I feel really good “Andrew is a great player,” well as I can, this month,” Kosch more than a lap left in regula- ability to put on a good show. about it.” Kosch said. “I was in his group said. “Today was a little bit of an tion. “As we showed today, you McMurray wins Cup pole It’s the fi rst pole of the in the qualifying and we had a off day, but that’s golf, too.” Gaughan already had gone can put on a hell of a race in the SONOMA, Calif. — Jamie season for McMurray, 10th of lot of fun. It was like a match. He’s eager to return to Benson sliding off the track a couple of rain,” Gaughan said. McMurray won the pole for his career, and third at Sonoma. He shot 71 and I had 73 with a because of its course condition. times earlier. Oh, and his team The race started a little more Sunday’s Sprint Cup race McMurray also started from couple of double bogeys. “The greens there and Johnny forgot to bring a windshield than an hour late, as NASCAR at Sonoma Raceway with a the pole last year but fi nished “I feel I should have got him Goodman are some of the best wiper to install on his car. officials waited for a slightly track-record lap that bumped 25th. there.” around here from what I’ve seen Through all that, Gaughan held Both had close semifinal match- this spring,” Kosch said. “It on to win a rainy and wild NAS- es at Benson. was a little wet Saturday (after CAR Nationwide Series race at Friday, Hansen won 1 up over Friday’s fl ooding rains) and the Road America on Saturday. David Overman. Saturday, on bunkers naturally were fi lled “I love racing in the rain,” a rain-soaked course, Kosch with water.” Gaughan said. “It’s fun. And eliminated defending Don Lee Hansen, 19, would be the when you’re good at it, it makes champion Michael Hillyard in fourth qualifying medalist in 46 it even more fun. I haven’t 20 holes. years to follow up with a match- smelled blood in a long time. Hansen was 2 up with four play title. That’s been something I’ve holes to play, but Overman was “Right now, I feel confidence been lacking lately is that killer able to square the match by win- with how I’m playing,” the attitude. When it started to rain, ning the 15th and 17th holes. former Omaha Creighton Prep even without the wiper blade, I “NuMale restored our “He had a wayward tee shot golfer said. “I’m striking it well, started to smell blood and said, relationships intimacy ten-fold” on 18, though, into the (unmown playing pretty consistently. I ‘I’m coming.’ ” area) to the right and conceded feel I’m in a good place head- Gaughan won for the fi rst Craig &Betty T. the match,” Hansen said. ing into the stretch of summer time in the series, breaking Kosch, 34, said neither he nor tournaments.” through in his 98th career start. Hillyard played very well. Hill- Contact the writer: Tagliani was second, followed yard squared the match with a 402-444-1041, [email protected] by Kevin O’Connell, Elliott and par on the 14th and they halved twitter.com/stuOWH J.J. Yeley as NASCAR drivers The Experts in PUBLINKS FINALISTS Tagge Rutherford These golfers will play Sunday Fourth Flight, 10:22 a.m. in the fi nals of the 82nd World- Brendan Johnson: Age 18, lives in Council Fighting Elk Men’sHealth Herald Publinks, with all matches Bluffs. Student. First-time entrant. 2015 Baseball Tryouts at Benson Park: Alan Simpson: Age 58, lives in Bellevue. Owner, Simco Inc. First time in fi nals. 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