ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2021 SPORTS 14 Hamlin continues to lead season standings after another strong run Blaney wins in Atlanta after Larson fades on old tires HAMPTON, Ga., March 22, (AP): Ryan Blaney knew he had to let Kyle Larson go. Patience was the key, especially on a day when Larson looked unbeatable. Jones wins Honda Classic by 5 In the end, Larson faded on an bat- tered set of tires, and Blaney raced by him for an improbable victory Sunday. “I was not going to be able to stick with him,” Blaney said. “I’ve got to save my tires ... and see what hap- shots to earn spot in Masters pens.” Blaney became the sixth driver to win in six races to start NASCAR’s Cup season, surging to the front with Harding holds on to claim Kenya Open nine laps to go after Larson easily won the fi rst two stages and led 269 of 325 laps on the 1.54-mile trioval. PALM BEACH GAR- Larson’s tires didn’t stand up to the DENS, Florida, March punishing track after making his fi nal pit stop with 56 laps to go. Ryan Blaney celebrates his win 22, (AP): When Matt Blaney stayed close enough to make after a NASCAR Cup Series auto Jones won his fi rst PGA his move, hugging the outside wall race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on through the fourth turn and cutting March 21, in Hampton, Ga. (AP) Tour title seven years to the inside to pass Larson as they ago, he needed a 45-foot crossed the line in front of the main grandstands. Holder takes 5-27 birdie putt just to get Blaney pulled away to win by 2.083 into a playoff and then seconds in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford, having gone just as long as Lar- Windies ‘dismiss’ a 40-yard chip-in to take son on the fi nal set of tires but getting the victory. much more out of them. Sri Lanka for 169 This win was far less dramat- “It’s cool to win at a place where ic, yet just as meaningful. you’ve got to fi nesse it a little bit and NORTH POINT, Antigua, March 22, It got him back to the Masters. think about it,” Blaney said after his (AP): Freed from the responsibilities Jones won the Honda Classic by fi fth career victory. of captaincy, Jason Holder took 5-27 fi ve shots, a fi nal round of 2-under He led just 25 laps, but was out front as West Indies bowled out Sri Lanka 68 good enough to fi nish the week at for the one that mattered. for 169 on Sunday on the fi rst day of 12-under 268 at PGA National. The When it was over, Blaney strolled the fi rst cricket Test. over to the stands and grabbed the Holder was replaced earlier margin matched the largest in tourna- checkered flag, which he handed to ment history, tying the mark set by this month as captain by Kraigg a young fan wearing the driver’s T- Brathwaite, who chose to bowl after Jack Nicklaus in 1977 and matched shirt. by Camilo Villegas in 2010. winning the toss at the Sir Vivian The 40-year-old Australian earned Richards Stadium. $1.26 million and, this time, he’ll CAR RACING Holder backed up that decision have more than a day to prepare for with his eighth fi ve-wicket bag in the trip to Augusta National. His win Tests, completed in 17.4 overs. He at the Houston Open in 2014 - and his It was a bitter loss for Larson, who was supported by Kemar Roach who Masters invite - came just one day be- missed a chance to become 2021’s fi rst started slowly but found his length in fore he had to go to Augusta, making two-time winner after a victory at Las the second session and took 3-47. it a scramble to get family and friends Vegas two weeks ago. West Indies batted cautiously through the fi nal hour to reach 13-0 together to share in the experience. Matt Jones of Australia holds the trophy after winning the Honda Classic golf tournament, on March 21, in Palm Still, he is off to a strong start in his The Masters starts April 8, so he’s Beach Gardens, Florida. (AP) new job at Hendrick Motorsports, less at stumps. Brathwaite, batting in sun- got much more time to plan this one. than a year after blurting out a racial glasses, was 3 not out from 36 balls ker, then four-putted from 25 feet for slur on the livestream of a late-night and John Campbell was on 7 from 44. video racing game, which cost him his The West Indies bowlers didn’t GOLF triple-bogey. Jones’ lead went to four, and he avoided trouble the rest of the Kuwait para shooter Al-Munaifi job at Chip Ganassi Racing. enjoy immediate success with the way, while Wise fi nished with a 73 “I hate to lead a lot of laps and lose,” new ball and 10 overs had elapsed and tied for 13th at 4 under. Larson said. “The car was stupid fast before the fi rst wicket fell. Rahkeem Jones started the week with a In Nairobi, Kenya, Justin Harding wins trap silver para World Cup for a long time there.” Cornwall removed Sri Lanka captain course-record-tying round of 9-under won the Kenya Open for his second The Cup series returned to the track Dimuth Karunaratne for 12 and that 61. He was three shots behind Aaron European Tour title, closing with a ABU DHABI, March 22, (KUNA): Russia, while the bronze medal where the racing world came to a halt began the unraveling of the Sri Lanka Wise after 36 holes after a second- Kuwait’s Bader Al-Munaifi on went to Ponomarenko’s compatriot a year ago. top order. 5-under 66 for a two-stroke victory. In March 2020, Atlanta was the fi rst round 70, and his round of 69 on Sat- The South African fi nished at 21 Sunday finished second place in Aleksei Pasternak. urday was good enough to put him up the trap competition at the World Al-Munaifi’s impressive showing NASCAR Cup race to be postponed under. He also won the 2019 Qatar Shooting Para Sport World Cup in was a testament to how far the because of the coronavirus pandemic. by three entering Sunday. Masters. Kurt Kitayama of the United CRICKET Brandon Hagy (66) fi nished 7 under the United Arab Emirates’ oasis sport of Paralympic shooting has This time, the race went off as States was second. He had two eagles city of Al-Ain, as the competition come in Kuwait, Duaij Al-Otaibi, the scheduled before a socially distanced and alone in second on his 30th birth- in a 6. day, his chance at winning doomed by chief of the country’s shooting fed- crowd of about 20,000 - far below ca- In Broussard. La., Roberto Diaz of eration, told KUNA via phone. Brathwaite brilliantly ran out Os- a third-round 76. Chase Seiffert (64), pacity because of the lingering COV- hada Fernando for 4 and Holder Mexico won the Chitimacha Loui- SHOOTING In comments after the highly ID-19 outbreak, but a welcome change Brendan Steele (65), C.T. Pan (70), siana Open for his fi rst Korn Kerry competitive outing, the Kuwaiti claimed his fi rst wicket when he Denny McCarthy (67) and Russell from last June when no fans were al- Tour title. Paralympic athlete expressed his dismissed Dinesh Chandimal (4) to Henley (68) tied for third at 6 under. lowed for Atlanta’s makeup race. The 34-year-old Diaz closed with reaches its halfway stage. pride over the accomplishment, leave Sri Lanka 54-3 at lunch. Wise’s chances ended at the par-4 The Kuwaiti para shooter, with a saying he was ecstatic to have The Cup series will be back July 11, a 3-under 68 for a one-stroke victory the fi rst time since 2010 that Atlanta Roach was particularly effective 10th. He hit his second into a bun- total of 22, was held off by gold been given the chance to represent between lunch and tea, dismissing over Peter Uihlein at Le Triomphe medalist Roman Ponomarenko of his homeland. has hosted two races in a season. Golf and Country Club. Diaz fi nished Pole-sitter Denny Hamlin continues Dhananjaya de Silva (13) and Pathum at 18 under. to lead the season standings after an- Nissanka (9), caught by Holder, to Uihlein shot a 67. Tom Whitney teur Rose Zhang with a birdie on the Jbe Kruger won the Sunshine Tour’s other strong run. He was fourth behind leave Sri Lanka 92-5. (63) was third at 16 under. second hole of a playoff. Liu closed Gauteng Championship at Ebotse Blaney, Larson and Alex Bowman. Opener Lahiru Thirimanne and Other Tours: China’s Ruixin Liu with a 3-under 69 at Longbow in Links in Benoni, South Africa. The Hamlin has fi nished in the top fi ve wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella won the season-opening Carlisle Ari- Mesa to match Zhang (66) at 17-under South African closed with a 6-under in every race but Homestead, where he combined in a partnership of 58 for the zona Women’s Golf Classic for her 271. The 17-year-old Zhang win the 66 to fi nish a 21-under, two strokes was 11th.