OKLAHOMA CITY — Federal investigators say weather likely wasn’t a factor in the plane crash that killed two Oklahoma State women’s basketball coaches Thursday.
National Transportation Safety Board investigator Jason Aguilar said Saturday that the skies were clear and the winds were calm when a plane carrying head coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna crashed in central Arkansas.
Aguilar said investigators are focusing on the pilot and the airframe, and possibly a loss of control. But he added that there was no evidence that would question the pilot’s qualifications to fly the plane. Former Oklahoma state Sen. Olin Branstetter was piloting the small plane. The 82-year-old and his wife, Paula, also were killed in the crash.
Meanwhile, alumni, students and athletes filed through the school’s arena to honor the coaches.
Park, Gal share LPGA lead
ORLANDO, Fla. — Hee Young Park birdied three of the final four holes for a 3-under-par 69 and a share of the third-round lead with Sandra Gal in the LPGA Tour’s season-ending Titleholders.
Gal, a German who won the Kia Classic in March for her first LPGA Tour title, shot a 71 in tricky wind conditions to match Park at 7-under.
Suzann Pettersen was a stroke back after a 68.
• Garth Mulroy birdied five straight holes on the back nine to take the lead with an 8-under 64 at the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane, South Africa.
The South African has a chance at a first European Tour title after his late run pushed him to 15-under and two shots ahead of Chile’s Felipe Aguilar (68).
• Matt Bettencourt shot a 3-under 69 at Pebble Beach for a share of the lead with Kyle Thompson after the third round of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach (Calif.) Invitational.
Bettencourt and Thompson, who shot a 71 at Spyglass Hill, were tied at 11-under 205.
Stenhouse is Nationwide champ
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. clinched the Nationwide Series championship about 30 laps into the 200-lap race, securing the title when six cars dropped out of the 300-mile event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Stenhouse was running fourth when NASCAR officials announced he had wrapped up the title. He finished second behind Brad Keselowski.
Chan wins skating title
PARIS — World champion Patrick Chan overcame a slew of errors to win the Trophee Bompard for the third time, and 14-year-old Elizaveta Tuktamisheva captured the women’s title with a clean, composed program.
