DUBLIN, Ohio — On a course with such a fine line between birdies and bogeys, Steve Stricker settled for perfection Friday at the Memorial with a hole-in-one that put him in control at Muirfield Village.
Stricker used a 6-iron on the 188-yard eighth hole — his 17th hole of the second round — then birdied his final hole for a 5-under-par 67.
“It’s a shock when you see that go in, obviously, but in a good way,” Stricker said. “A great way to finish the round.”
Stricker was at 9-under 135, three shots clear of Rory McIlroy (72), Ricky Barnes (70), Jonathan Byrd (67) and Rod Pampling (66).
• Third-ranked Jiyai Shin shot a 5-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over playing partner Sandra Gal after the wind-whipped opening round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway Township, N.J.
• Champions Tour rookie Mark Brooks fired a 6-under 65 in hot, breezy conditions to take a two- stroke lead over Mark Calcavecchia and Peter Senior in the Principal Charity Classic in West Des Moines, Iowa.
• Alexander Noren overcame windy conditions to shoot a 4-under 67 and lead defending champion Graeme McDowell (68—135) by one stroke after the second round of the Wales Open in Newport, Wales.
Penn State turns to Chambers
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State chose Boston University’s Patrick Chambers to take over its men’s basketball program after the departure of Ed DeChellis.
Chambers, 40, led the Terriers to their first America East title and NCAA Tournament in nine seasons this spring, losing in the second round to Kansas. He is 42-28 since arriving at Boston in 2009.
• The Southeastern Conference voted to eliminate divisions in men’s basketball and to reduce the annual signing classes in football to 25 players.
Pryor to stay with Buckeyes?
JEANNETTE, Pa. — Embattled Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor will return to the Buckeyes for his senior season, his godfather said.
“I think he will stay in school,” said Willie Burns, the legal guardian Pryor lived with while he was in high school. “He likes football. Only time will tell. He could change his mind in a minute. But he if he does leave, somebody done pressured his butt — bad.”
• Montana quarterback Nate Montana, a son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding after an early- morning traffic stop in which he declined a breathalyzer test in Missoula, Mont.
Footnotes.
Jockey Michael Baze, who won more than 900 horse races in a nine-year career, died May 10 from an accidental overdose of cocaine and prescription pain medicine, according to the Jefferson County (Ky.) deputy coroner.
• Uncle Mo has been diagnosed with an inflamed liver, although last year’s 2-year-old champion could resume training this summer.
• Forward Drew Stafford agreed to a four-year, $16 million contract to return to the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.
