SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2015 Compton grabs share of lead

GREENSBORO: Erik Compton weeks off and a London holiday wonders if he should start with his wife, but knocked off drinking more often after firing the rust in the pro-am and con- an eight-under-par 62 to grab a tinued his hot hand when the three-way share of the first real action started. round lead at the Wyndham “Kind of an unexpected Championship on Thursday. round,” he said after storming The two-time heart-transplant home in 28 strokes on his final recipient, who tied for second nine holes, the easier front nine. at last year’s U.S. Open, took “It was really a great ball-strik- advantage of ideal scoring con- ing day with a lot of tap-ins and ditions on a soggy Sedgefield the course yielded some low course to join fellow Americans scores (so) it was just put your William McGirt and Tom Hoge foot down and know (it is) atop the leaderboard. going to take a low number to Preferred lies and soft greens win this week.” Co-leader allowed players to attack the McGirt, who grew up in nearby pins fearlessly on a day when Charlotte, teed off so early that 102 players broke par, including it was hard to read the greens Tiger Woods, whose 64 was his for the first few holes on a best score in over two years. cloudy morning. Compton does not normally “It was a little dark early but I drink, but the 25-year-old had a played pretty solid all day,” said couple after the pro-am on McGirt, who is ranked 86th in Wednesday after being sum- the tour standings and, as with moned for a drug test. “I drank Compton, has never won on two vodka tonics to get my kid- tour. neys working. Maybe I should Tour rookie Hoge, in the do that again,” Compton joked last group of the day, birdied to reporters. the 18th to make it a three- At 114th on the FedExCup way tied for the lead. points list, Compton is likely to Compton and McGirt led a stay in the top 125 and qualify group of four players by one for the lucrative playoffs start- stroke, while two-times major ing next week, and a good start winner Martin Kaymer was GREENSBORO: Eric Compton (left) congratulates Daniel Summerhays as they finish here did not hurt his cause. among those who matched the first round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament. — AP He arrived after a couple of Woods on 64. — Reuters cut elder statesman Icher starts hot, from World Cup squad Ko and Lewis lurk SUVA: The elder statesman of Fijian rugby, every confidence that this team will rise to the Seremaia Bai, was the notable omission yester- challenge and bring their best game to every VANCOUVER: France’s Karine Icher birdies and two bogeys over her first day when Fiji coach John McKee named his 31- match.” upstaged big names Lydia Ko and eight holes. man squad for the September-October World McKee’s focus on form meant no room for Stacy Lewis to storm to a two-shot But she managed five birdies from Cup. Fiji are in the so-called pool of death with the 36-year-old Bai, a veteran of 49 Tests, with lead after the opening round of the that point on including three in her England, Australia and Wales, and McKee said the Leicester centre named as a non-travelling Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in final four holes. “Hopefully that will he had picked a squad which he was confident reserve. Vancouver on Thursday. give me good momentum tomor- “will rise to the challenge”. Lyon winger and Icher, a runner up to Ko in 2013 at row,” Ko told reporters. “But playing in They go centre stage at the very start of the Warriors prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa also missed the event, took apart Vancouver Golf the morning and then afternoon tournament, playing hosts England in the the cut. Club with a bogey-free seven-under- tomorrow there is quite a bit of wait, opening game. Fiji squad: 65. A five-time winner on the Ladies but I’ve just got to keep the positive Led by Montpellier flanker the Forwards: Lee Roy Atalifo (Suva), Isei Colati European Tour, but not since 2005, attitude going. Hit one shot at a time squad is dominated by overseas professionals (Nevers), Campese Ma’afu (Pays D’Aix), Peni the 36-year-old burst out of a funk to and just have fun out there. with props Lee Roy Atalifo and Peni Ravai the Ravai (Nadroga), Manasa Saulo (Timisoara), take charge and build a two-shot lead “It’s great to get into a really good only local amateurs to make the grade. Sunia Koto (Narbonne), Tuapati Talemaitoga from New Zealand’s world number start. But you can see there are some “With this talented group of rugby players, (Pays D’Aix), Viliame Veikoso (Doncaster), two Ko. other really good scores and every- fiercely proud of representing their country, I (), Icher has yet to post a single top- body’s playing their best. It’s going to believe we have a team of players who will (), (Agen), 10 result on the LPGA Tour this sea- be tough.” bring their best game to the biggest contest in Nemia Soqeta (Biarritz), Sakiusa Masi Matadigo son but had seven birdies in a blister- Canadian teenager Brooke international rugby,” McKee said. “It’s great to (Lyon), Akapusi Qera (capt, Montpellier), ing first 11 holes before parring Henderson, fresh off her maiden see Lee Roy and Peni making the selection. It’s Malakai Ravulo (Farul Constanta), Netani Talei home. LPGA win, posted a round of 70 to be not always easy for local players to set really (Harlequins), Dom Waqaniburotu (Brive), Peceli Ko’s five-under-65 was the best in the mix at two under and tied for high standards for themselves and to strive to Yato (Clermont). score of the morning’s play to take 13th. reach the highest levels of the game.” There is Backs: Nemia Kenatale (Farul Constanta), second place alone while American A Canadian has not won their no shortage of confidence in the Fiji lineup (Bath), Henry Seniloli former world number one Stacy Lewis national open since Jocelyne after they beat Pacific rivals Samoa in the (Treviso), (La Rochelle), Gabiriele was joined by Korean I.K. Kim, Swede Bourassa won the inaugural event in recent Pacific Nations Cup final to shoot up to Lovobalavu (Bayonne), Joshua Matavesi Pernilla Lindberg and American 1973. “If I can continue to build off the ninth on the world rankings. (Ospreys), (Waratahs), Vereniki Danah Bordner in a tie for third place crowd’s energy the next couple of “After the successful Pacific Nations Cup Goneva (Leicester), (La at four under. days, I think it will be good,” campaign and current training camp here in Rochelle), (), Waisea Ko, who won at Vancouver Golf Henderson said. Defending champion Fiji the squad is working well towards the chal- Nayacalevu (Stade Francais), Metuisela Club as a 15-year-old in 2012, started Ryu So-yeon of South Korea shot a lenges ahead,” McKee said. Talebula (Bordeaux), Asaeli Tikoirotuma on the back nine and traded two one-under 71. — Reuters “Pool A is a very challenging pool and I have (Harlequins). — AFP