DORAL, Fla. — Rushing to finish as dark clouds gathered over the Blue Monster, Ernie Els made one last birdie for a 6-under-par 66 and a one-shot lead over Robert Allenby (67—135) before heavy rain temporarily halted play Friday in the CA Championship.
Eighteen players had to wait nearly three hours before they could resume the second round. When it finally ended, Els had his first lead after any round on U.S. soil since he won the Honda Classic two years ago.
“It’s in the books, and we were pretty lucky to get done,” he said. “We ran the last two holes just to get in the house.”
Charl Schwartzel (70) and Bill Haas (66) were tied for third at 7-under 137.
• Skip Kendall topped the Puerto Rico Open leaderboard at 5-under after nine holes when first- round play was suspended because of darkness in the rain-delayed PGA Tour event in Rio Grande.
• Giulia Sergas shot a 4-under 69 to take a three-stroke lead over Choi He-yong (69—142) and Yang Soo-jin (72) after the second round of the Women’s Australian Open in Melbourne.
Oregon QB suspended for season
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was suspended for the upcoming season by coach Chip Kelly after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary in the theft of two laptops and a guitar from a campus fraternity.
Masoli, who had been mentioned as a potential Heisman candidate, will remain on scholarship.
Kelly also meted out punishment for running back LaMichael James and place-kicker Rob Beard.
James, who set a Pac-10 freshman record with more than 1,500 yards rushing last season, was suspended for the season opener after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend. Beard was also suspended for the opener Sept. 4 at home against New Mexico after pleading guilty last week to a misdemeanor harassment charge for his role in a fight that left him seriously injured.
Footnotes.
The NBA has signed off on Michael Jordan‘s bid to buy the Charlotte Bobcats, and commissioner David Stern said he expects the league’s board of governors to approve the $275 million purchase by the end of next week.
• Jeff Lebo was fired as Auburn’s basketball coach after his fourth losing season in six years with the Tigers. He was 96-93 overall.
• Iowa State junior forward Craig Brackins, who averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds this season, will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the NBA draft.
• Syracuse center Arinze Onuaku (right quadriceps) could return to practice by Monday.
• Overall speedskating World Cup champion Shani Davis won his third title of the season at 1,500 meters, and teammate Tucker Fredricks finished second in the 500 in Heerenveen, Netherlands, to keep his lead for the discipline title.
• Robert Hight (funny car) Tony Schumacher (top fuel), Mike Edwards (pro stock) and Junior Pippin (pro stock motorcycle) led their respective divisions in qualifying in the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
