GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Lorena Ochoa struggled Thursday in the first round of her Lorena Ochoa Invitational, shooting a 1-over-par 73 on her home course to drop five strokes behind Annika Sorenstam and the other leaders.
“I can’t say I’m happy because I’m not, but I’m feel like I can get closer. I hope to do it (today),” said Ochoa, who took up the game 21 years ago at Guadalajara Country Club. “It’s a good pressure to play here, to feel the good vibes and the love of my fans.”
LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng, No. 2 in the world behind Ochoa, topped the leaderboard at 68 along with Sorenstam, Angela Stanford, Karen Stupples, Seon Hwa Lee, Nicole Castrale, Hee-Won Han and Brittany Lang.
• Lam Chih Bing fired a 4-under 67 and upstaged the big names to take a first-round lead at the Singapore Open.
Play was halted because of darkness with almost half the field unable to finish their opening rounds.
• All four rounds of the British Open will air live on ESPN starting in 2010.
Kings’ Theus fined $25,000
NEW YORK — The NBA fined Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus $25,000 for comments he made about the officiating after Tuesday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons.
• The Chicago Bulls signed point guard Lindsey Hunter, who brings 15 years of experience to the injury-riddled team.
Savard returns to Blackhawks as ambassador
CHICAGO — Denis Savard returned to the Chicago Blackhawks as a team ambassador after being fired as coach last month. He joins former Blackhawks Tony Esposito, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita in the community relations role.
• The Minnesota Wild activated right wing Owen Nolan (leg) from injured reserve and sent center Krys Kolanos to its American Hockey League affiliate in Houston.
Footnotes.
Darren Collison made two free throws with 21 seconds remaining and No. 4 UCLA (2-0) survived a defensive struggle to beat Miami (Ohio) 64-59 in the 2K Sports Classic in Los Angeles.
• A Douglas County (Kan.) District Court judge dismissed a civil lawsuit against Kansas point guard Sherron Collins, who had been accused of sexually assaulting a 35-year-old woman in an elevator in May 2007.
• Virginia Tech forward J.T. Thompson is expected to miss four to six weeks with a hernia.
• Race car driver Helio Castrone- ves’ attorneys and employer asked a judge to delay his March trial on tax evasion charges until next November so he can continue racing. The U.S. Attorney’s office said it would respond to the motion in court.
• Rookie of the year favorite Mike Neff took the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in funny car in the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. J.R. Todd (top fuel), Dave Connolly (pro stock) and Eddie Krawiec (pro stock motorcycle) also led their divisions.
• Evander Holyfield (42-9-2, 27 KOs) will challenge 7-foot Russian Nikolai Valuev (49-1, 34) for the World Boxing Association heavyweight crown Dec. 20 in Zurich, Switzerland. The Associated Press
