THIS DAY IN SPORTS 1969 — Lew Alcindor scores 37 points to lead UCLA to the NCAA men’s basketball NUMBERS GAME title with a 97-72 win over Purdue. C4 Antelope Valley Press, Sunday, March 22, 2020 Morning rush Mini tours playing through outbreak Valley Press news services By JOHN MARSHALL ventative measures in place to Wells Bayou wins eerie Louisiana Derby Associated Press STILL PLAYING protect from the coronavirus. at empty track PHOENIX — Anna Nord- In this May 31 All carts were sanitized be- NEW ORLEANS — As Wells Bayou completed a qvist drained a birdie putt on file photo, Anna fore each of the three rounds Nordqvist of Sweden, wire-to-wire victory in the $1 million Louisiana Derby, the second playoff hole, pumped and those players who didn’t there was hardly a cheer to be heard — other than the watches her ball isolated triumphant shouts of trainer Brad Cox and his her fist and gave a slight wave to on the 13th tee walk were limited to one per stable crew. half-dozen people clapping near during the second cart. The players were asked to In the 107th running of the qualifying points race for the green. The tournament title round of the U.S. space out on the course to fol- the Kentucky Derby, the clubhouse and grandstand at in hand, the two-time major Women’s Open low social distancing guidelines Fair Grounds Race Course were empty and eerily quiet champion turned to playing golf tournament in and the post-round hugs often Charleston, S.C. because of crowd restrictions related to the coronavirus partner Lisa Pettersson and found in women’s golf were re- pandemic. There was no crowd noise to rival the echoing Associated Press voice of track announcer John G. Dooley — just the hesitated. placed by waves — and one last The customary post-round right now.” ern Skies Golf Course in Gil- high-elbow. sound of 56 hooves clopping down the stretch. The spreading coronavirus Winning jockey Florent Geroux had noted the hug was out of the question, so bert. Jared de Toit, a PGA Tour Even the group photo at the caused a ripple effect across the bizarre scene during earlier races on what is normally the Swedish players touched el- Latinoamerica player, shot a end had social distancing; Cac- sports landscape as just about the busiest day of the year at the Fair Grounds, drawing bows and walked off the green final-round 59 on Thursday, but tus Tour director Mike Brown every major sport postponed or crowds approaching 10,000. with a laugh. lost in a playoff to fellow Canadi- had the players stand arm’s “It’s funny because it’s the biggest day of the meet here cancelled events and seasons. an Wil Bateman. and its completely empty,” Geroux said. “It’s like playing The major golf tours may The LPGA joined the fray, post- length apart before taking the football in the Super Bowl with an empty stadium.” have shut down during the Nordqvist shot a final-round picture. poning tournaments scheduled 66 at Moon Valley to tie Petters- Kind of like New Orleans without open bars or live mu- coronavirus outbreak, but a through the end of April and “We followed all the guide- sic clubs, which has been the case since early last week. son and won it with a roughly handful of mini tours are play- pushing the ANA Inspiration, lines,” Brown said. “It’s safer On Saturday, the Louisiana Derby was one of the few 12-foot birdie putt on the second ing through. its first major of the season, to for them for a chance of getting U.S. sporting events to continue as scheduled, one day playoff hole. England’s Holly “I’m sure there’s a lot of peo- September. something doing what I did be- after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell had issued Clyburn also won an Eggland’s a “stay home” mandate to residents in an effort to curb ple questioning why we’re play- The Cactus and Outlaw cause they’re all individuals, not the spread of the virus. Shortly after the race, officials ing, but everyone is playing golf tours have pushed on in Arizo- Best Tour event in Lake Mary, cramming into a golf cart right announced that the rest of the meet, which was scheduled anyway,” Nordqvist said after na, which has among the fewest Florida, this week. next to someone. But we’re ob- to run until March 29, was canceled. winning a Cactus Tour event coronavirus cases in the United “It’s definitely strange, but viously keeping an eye on how Australian football leagues play on amid at Moon Valley Country Club States with around 64. we’re taking precautions,” Pet- things go.” outbreak on Friday. “Everyone got their The Outlaw Tour, a men’s tersson said. The Cactus Tour has been SYDNEY — Australia pressed on with matches in its own cart or they’re walking, tour with events across the The Cactus Tour’s Moon an early stepping stone for three main football leagues on Saturday, playing in empty you keep your distance and the Phoenix area, held a three-day Valley stop featured a limited LPGA players since its incep- stadiums in an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus. golf course is a great place to be tournament this week at West- field of 27 players and had pre- tion in 2005. The National Rugby League, soccer’s A-League and Australian Rules Football’s AFL played on in the midst of the coronavirus crisis that has seen more than 1,000 MLB GOLF NBA NHL MOTORSPORTS Australians infected. Spring Training Glance PGA Tour schedule WESTERN CONFERENCE WESTERN CONFERENCE NASCAR Cup Around the world sports have suspended leagues or AMERICAN LEAGUE Jan. 2-5 — Sentry Tournament of Pacific Division Pacific Division W L Pct GB Schedule-Winners W L Pct. Champions (Justin Thomas) GP W L OT Pts GF GA Feb. 9 — x-Busch Clash at DAYTONA (Erik canceled tournaments until restrictions can be lifted on Jan. 9-12 — Sony Open (Cameron x-L.A. Lakers 49 14 .778 — Toronto 12 6 .667 Vegas 71 39 24 8 86 227 211 Jones) Smith) L.A. Clippers 44 20 .688 5½ public gatherings and social contact. Oakland 13 8 .619 Edmonton 71 37 25 9 83 225 217 Feb. 13 — x-Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Jan. 16-19 — Desert Classic (Andrew Sacramento 28 36 .438 21½ Texas 12 8 .600 Calgary 70 36 27 7 79 210 215 DAYTONA (Joey Logano) The AFL, which signed a A$2.5 billion broadcasting Landry) Phoenix 26 39 .400 24 Chicago 10 7 .588 Vancouver 69 36 27 6 78 228 217 Feb. 13 — x-Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 at Jan. 23-26 — Farmers Insurance Open Golden State 15 50 .231 35 deal from 2017 to 2022, opened its season this weekend New York 11 8 .579 Arizona 70 33 29 8 74 195 187 DAYTONA (William Byron) (Marc Leishman) Southwest Division Baltimore 9 7 .563 Ducks 71 29 33 9 67 187 226 Feb. 16 — DAYTONA 500 (Denny Hamlin) with the first of nine matches. In normal times the league Jan. 30-Feb. 2 — Waste Management W L Pct GB Tampa Bay 9 8 .529 Kings 70 29 35 6 64 178 212 Feb. 23 — Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Phoenix Open (Webb Simpson) Houston 40 24 .625 — San Jose 70 29 36 5 63 182 226 attracts enormous audiences, especially in Victoria State Kansas City 9 9 .500 Lube (Joey Logano) Feb. 6-9 — AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Dallas 40 27 .597 1½ where crowds of more than 80,000 are common. The Boston 9 10 .474 Central Division March 1 — Auto Club 400 (Alex Bowman) (Nick Taylor) Memphis 32 33 .492 8½ Detroit 8 9 .471 GP W L OT Pts GF GA March 8 — FanShield 500 (Joey Logano) planned 22-round season has been shortened to 17 rounds Feb. 13-16 — Genesis Invitational (Adam New Orleans 28 36 .438 12 St. Louis 71 42 19 10 94 225 193 Minnesota 7 8 .467 March 15 — Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Scott) San Antonio 27 36 .429 12½ Colorado 70 42 20 8 92 237 191 though players want the option of a full 22-week season to Houston 7 11 .389 (canceled) Feb. 20-23 — WGC-Mexico Northwest Division Dallas 69 37 24 8 82 180 177 Angels 6 10 .375 March 22 — Dixie Vodka 400, Homestead, be kept open. Championship (Patrick Reed) W L Pct GB Winnipeg 71 37 28 6 80 216 203 Cleveland 7 12 .368 Fla. Feb. 20-23 — Puerto Rico Open (Viktor Denver 43 22 .662 — Nashville 69 35 26 8 78 215 217 Seattle 6 12 .333 March 29 — O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, Fort Men’s world hockey championships in Hovland) Utah 41 23 .641 1½ Minnesota 69 35 27 7 77 220 220 NATIONAL LEAGUE Worth, Texas Feb. 27-March 1 — Honda Classic Oklahoma City 40 24 .625 2½ Chicago 70 32 30 8 72 212 218 W L Pct. April 5 — Food City 500, Bristol, Tenn. Switzerland canceled (Sungjae Im) Portland 29 37 .439 14½ EASTERN CONFERENCE Philadelphia 14 5 .737 April 19 — Toyota Owners 400, Richmond, March 5-8 — Arnold Palmer Invitational Minnesota 19 45 .297 23½ Atlantic Division Health concerns and travel bans closing international Miami 12 6 .667 Va. (Tyrrell Hatton) EASTERN CONFERENCE GP W L OT Pts GF GA San Diego 11 7 .611 April 26 — GEICO 500, Talladega, Ala.