10012018 SPORTS

SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2018

MLB

Roundup, Page 4

Truckers are new NPSA champions

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

F

acing elimination in three consecutive games, the Commando Security Truckers played arguably their best softball of the season and came from behind to win the best of seven series for the 2018 New Providence Softball Association title.

The Truckers clinched the championship with a 6-5 win over the C & S Hitmen in game seven in the Banker’s Field at Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday night. The Hitmen dominated the game for much of the evening and led by as much as 5-2 until Garfield Bethel’s grand slam in the top of the sixth inning put the Truckers ahead for good.

“It’s all about not giving up, they scored some runs early but we believed those runs were unearned. We hit when the timing was right and we were able to get the job done,” Truckers outfielder Lamar Watkins said. “Before the season started, before this series started, people thought we would get swept…two-time defending champions, but the Truckers are a great organisation, we are just trying to get it back to where it used to be.”

The teams split the first two games, but the Hitmen won games three and four to take a commanding 3-1 lead before the late series collapse.

Game six was rained out on Thursday night, forcing the teams into a situation to play backto-back games on Friday and Saturday to conclude the series.

Truckers pitcher Eugene Pratt, the hero of game six with his walk-off home run Friday night to force game seven, was back on the mound for the second consecutive night.

“Eugene was big for us having to go back-to-back games. We were left without one of our pitchers, he had to take a trip, we didn’t want to cancel so we had to fight with what we had,” Watkins said, “We worked hard all year and hard work pays off.”

On the mound again for the Hitmen was ace pitcher Alcott Forbes, pitching his third game in the series. Forbes was ejected from

THE COMMANDO Security Truckers clinched the 2018 New Providence Softball Association championship title with a 6-5 win over the C & S Hitmen in game seven in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday night.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff game five, the first of the three consecutive wins for the Truckers.

“Our mindset was we already beat him twice already and we think we can do it again,” Watkins said. “He wasn’t as sharp as he was before he got thrown out the last game, but even then we were up 3-1 that game so we just knew either way, we had to hit.”

Forbes said for the season to end in this fashion was a major disappointment to his club that fought to overcome adversity throughout the series. “Bittersweet moment man, we had a lot going on with our team, a lot of injuries, adversity, we had a lot of things we tried

to overcome. “Mentally I believe the team was torn apart because of what was going on since the series started,” he said.

The Hitmen had the bases loaded on three occasions but failed to capitalise with runners in scoring position.

“Those things happen. At the end of the day I believe everyone was too aggressive, wanted it a bit too bad, forced ourselves into some mistakes and we just couldn’t get what we were supposed to get,” Forbes said. “However the Truckers are a very good ball club, I’m pulling for them in BSF Nationals.”

His ejection from game five was one of the major storylines of the series and his issues with officiating led Forbes to declare this past season his final year playing fastpitch softball.

“I don’t want to elaborate on the problem with the officiating because I’m not a cry baby, however, we had opportunities to win the game but I believe the umpires should let players play and they should just call safe and out.”

The Hitmen join the Sunshine Auto Wildcats in the women’s division to represent New Providence at the Bahamas Softball Federation’s National Round Robin.

PATRIOTS STOP SKID, HAND THE DOLPHINS 1ST LOSS IN 38-7 ROUT

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

(AP) — The Patriots’ losing streak is over.

And so is the Dolphins’ undefeated start.

Tom Brady threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns and the New England Patriots handed Miami its first loss of the season in a 38-7 rout yesterday.

It denied the Dolphins (3-1) their first 4-0 start since Hall of Fame coach Don Shula’s last season in 1995.

“I thought we got what we needed from our team today,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.

Brady improved to 15-1 as a starter against Miami.

“We hadn’t played well in the last weeks,” Brady said.

“This game’s great. But you’ve gotta turn the page.”

New England (2-2) may be doing that without one of its best players. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, one of Brady’s favourite targets, left the game in the third quarter with a right ankle injury and did not return.

It put a slight damper on an afternoon in which New England showed the kind of consistency on both sides of the ball that had been missing in back-to-back losses to Jacksonville and Detroit.

Since 2002, the Patriots are 7-0 after back-to-back losses.

In its two losses, New England’s offence struggled to find its rhythm and sustain drives on third down.

It did both Sunday, taking advantage of a Dolphins defence that couldn’t seem to match the Patriots’ speed.

Running back James White finished with a rushing and receiving touchdown. Rookie running back Sony Michel also rushed 25 times for 112 yards and his first career touchdown. It was perfect timing after Rex Burkhead went on injured reserve last week with a neck injury.

Miami struggled in every phase and looked very

SEE PAGE 2

Coleby tips off pro career in Belgium, posts double double

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net DWIGHT Coleby tipped off his pro career in Belgium and made an immediate impact with his new club in his first night on the floor in Belgium’s Pro Basketball League (PBL).

Coleby posted a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for Liege Basket in their 80-69 win over Kangoeroes on Saturday night. He went 6-10 from the field and was a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.

Liege Basket will face the fourth-ranked Antwerp Giants in the next round.

The PBL is the highest level of basketball in the

country. Liege Basket is a one-time winner of the Belgium Cup and a two-time champion of the Belgium Supercup.

Coleby was a member of the Bahamian national team this summer just before he was named to the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League and minicamp roster of the New Orleans Pelicans.

He also participated in a pre-NBA Draft workout with the Utah Jazz.

Coleby averaged 11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his lone season as a graduate transfer for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

He posted a double double in the final game of

DWIGHT COLEBY, of the Bahamas, scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Liege Basket in their 80-69 win over Kangoeroes in Belgium’s Pro Basketball League on Saturday night. (AP) his collegiate career, but the postseason run for the Hilltoppers ended in the

National Invitational Tournament semi-finals in a 69-64 loss to the Utah Utes.

He finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

WKU finished the season 27-11 and they achieved the programme’s most wins in a decade.

The Hilltoppers were the third programme for Coleby over the course of his collegiate career.

Out of the Piney Woods High School Mississippi, Coleby signed with the Ole Miss Rebels.

In his freshman season with the Rebels, Coleby played in 28 games with four starts and averaged 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 10.4 minutes. He shot 47 per cent from the floor and finished with 18 blocked shots, fifth on the team. As a sophomore, he scored in double figures in

six games and earned three starts in 34 games.

He averaged 5.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 53 per cent shooting.

The following offseason Coleby planned to spend the 2015-16 season on the sidelines as a transfer to the Kansas Jayhawks, but he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a light team workout in October.

When he finally made his debut with the Jayhawks following a gruelling rehab process, he averaged 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in his lone season in Lawrence.

Coleby has been a member of a number of Bahamian national teams at both the junior and senior levels.

PAGE 2, Monday, October 1, 2018

PATRIOTS FROM PAGE 1 much like the team that has lost 10 straight road games to New England.

Ryan Tannehill finished 11 for 20 for 100 yards and an interception. He was pulled in the fourth quarter in favour of Brock Osweiler.

Osweiler connected with Frank Gore for a 6-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for Miami’s lone score.

“Not a lot went right for us,” Tannehill said.

Miami was just 3 of 11 on third down and managed only 172 total yards. The Dolphins also had two turnovers and were whistled for 10 penalties, totalling 89 yards “I feel like it’s nothing they did,” running back Kenyan Drake said. “I felt like we out there and the penalties and all those things killed us.”

Miami had a strong start on defence, intercepting Brady on New England’s second offensive series.

But following a quick Dolphins’ punt, the Patriots bounced back with a 55-yard TD pass from

Brady to Cordarrelle Patterson to take a 10-0 lead.

The 55-yard pass was New England’s longest play of the season. Patterson caught the pass over his shoulder along the sideline and stutter-stepped past safety T.J. McDonald to find a clear path to the end zone.

Then about midway through the second quarter, Tannehill fumbled a snap to begin a series that was recovered by Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy on the Dolphins 2 . White ran it in for a touchdown on the next play to make it 17-0 .

The Patriots then ended the half with a 15-play, 85-yard drive capped by an acrobatic touchdown grab in the end zone by Phillip Dorsett.

Dorsett, who had no catches in last week’s loss to Detroit, finished with four catches for 55 yards.

GORDON DEBUTS Patriots receiver Josh Gordon made his debut Sunday, marking his first playing time in New England since his trade from the Cleveland Browns on September 17.

THE TRIBUNE Miami’s matchup with the Patriots. With 14,124 rushing yards, Gore entered the day ranked fourth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list behind only Emmitt Smith (18,335), Walter Payton (16,726) and Barry Sanders (15,269).

SPREAD IT AROUND Patterson became the 70th different player to catch a touchdown pass from Brady.

It tied Brady with Vinny Testaverde for the most players with a touchdown reception from a single quarterback in NFL history.

PATRIOTS defensive tackle Adam Butler, right, celebrates after sacking Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill (17) in the second half yesterday.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Gordon made his first reception at the 7:27 mark of the first quarter, hauling in a 13-yard grab.

New England dealt for the embattled receiver about 48 hours after the Browns announced their intention to cut ties with him, saying they had “reached a point where we feel it’s best to part

ways and move forward.”

Gordon was inactive in Week 3 in New England’s loss to Detroit with a hamstring injury and was limited in practice this week.

He finished with two catches for 32 yards.

“I have no doubt I can take advantage of this opportunity,” Gordon said.

“I’m more than blessed,

I’m extremely grateful to be in this scenario. I think the only thing right for me to do is take advantage of it.”

MR 200 Dolphins running back Frank Gore became the eighth running back in NFL history to appear in 200 NFL games. Gore took the field in the first quarter of

INJURIES Dolphins centre Daniel Kilgore left the game in the first half with an arm injury.

Safety Bobby McCain left with a knee injury.

Patriots defensive lineman Adam Butler was helped off the field in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Elandon Roberts also limped off late.

UP NEXT The Dolphins visit Cincinnati next Sunday.

The Patriots host the Colts on Thursday night.

Titans edge Eagles 26-23 on TD pass late in OT NASHVILLE, Tenn.

(AP) — Marcus Mariota hit Corey Davis with a 10-yard touchdown pass just before the end of overtime, and the Tennessee Titans beat the Philadelphia Eagles 26-23 yesterday for their best start since 2013.

The Titans trailed by 14 in the third quarter before rallying for the lead. They also trailed 23-20 in overtime before coming back again behind Mariota, who in his first start since being knocked out of the season opener with an injured elbow threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns while also running for a score.

On the game-winning drive, the Titans converted three fourth downs, one by penalty. Mariota hit Taywan Taylor with a 19-yarder on fourth-and-15, and Mariota found a wide-open Dion Lewis on fourth-and-2 for a 17-yard gain. Facing thirdand-goal and the clock running out, Mariota found Davis for the receiver’s first TD catch in the regular season.

The Titans (3-1) also came up with four sacks.

Rookie Harold Landry got his first and also stripped Carson Wentz of the ball within the first minute of the fourth quarter, setting up the second of Ryan Succop’s two field goals.

The Eagles (2-2) had their chances to win both at the end of regulation and in overtime but were forced to settle for a pair of field goals by Jake Elliott.

RAIDERS 45, BROWNS 42, OT OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Derek Carr threw four TD passes and a game-tying 2-point conversion with 30 seconds left in regulation to set up Matt McGrane’s 29-yard field goal in overtime that gave Oakland its first win since Jon Gruden’s return as coach.

McGrane missed a 50-yard field goal on the opening possession of overtime before Carr drove the Raiders (1-3) back down the field again after a defensive stop for the game winner with 1:46 left in the period.

The field goal dealt the Browns (1-2-1) another tough loss as they blew a 14-point lead in the second half and then allowed to get the game-tying TD and 2-point conversion in the final seconds of regulation to spoil Baker Mayfield’s NFL starting debut.

Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick, threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns to put Cleveland on position to win but also committed four turnovers, losing two fumbles and throwing two interceptions. The Browns were seeking their first back-to-back wins since November 2014.

Carr threw for 437 yards, Marshawn Lynch ran for 130 yards for his most productive game in four years, and Amari Cooper (128 yards) and Jared Cook (110) each topped the 100yard mark.

COWBOYS 26, LIONS 24 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brett Maher kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired, lifting Dallas over Detroit.

Maher’s fourth field goal was set up by Dak Prescott’s 34-yard completion to running back Ezekiel Elliott on a deep throw after Matthew Stafford had put the Lions in front with a 38-yard touchdown to Golden Tate, their second TD connection of the day.

Elliott had 240 all-purpose yards, with 152 yards rushing and 88 receiving.

The best offensive day of the season for a previously struggling Dallas offense spoiled Stafford’s homecoming again, with his third straight loss at the home of the Cowboys (2-2). The

when he had his first career game with five touchdown passes in a loss to New Orleans, Ryan had too little support from an injurydepleted defence.

The Falcons (1-3) topped 30 points for the third straight week TEXANS 37, COLTS 34, OT INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ka’imi Fairbairn took advantage of his second chance on a 37-yard field goal attempt, making it as time expired in overtime to give Houston a victory over Indianapolis.

He had missed the first kick wide left — just after Indy called timeout.

Houston (1-3) ended the league’s losing streak at nine games with its first victory since Nov. 19.

drive after Phil Dawson missed a 45-yard field goal that would have given the lead to Arizona (0-4) with 1:50 to play.

The Cardinals are 0-4 for the first time since 1986, two years before they moved from St Louis.

Rosen completed 15 of 27 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

SAINTS 33, GIANTS 18 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Alvin Kamara ran for three second-half touchdowns and New Orleans’ defence stepped out of Drew Brees’ shadow in a victory over New York.

Wil Lutz matched his career high with four field goals as the Saints (3-1) built a 12-7 halftime lead.

career-high six touchdown passes — one shy of the NFL record — and Chicago pounded Tampa Bay. The Bears (3-1) won their third straight with Trubisky delivering the sort of breakout performance general manager Ryan Pace envisioned when he traded up a spot to draft the prized quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick last year.

He finished one TD pass short of the franchise mark set by Sid Luckman against the New York Giants in 1943. Luckman is tied with seven others in NFL history to throw seven TD passes in a game.

The Bears also racked up 483 yards in this one, nearly matching their record of 488 in that same game, on the way to their highest point total since 51-20

TITANS wide receiver Corey Davis (84) catches the winning touchdown pass yesterday against Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) in overtime.

(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) former Dallas-area high school star threw for 307 yards.

Trailing 20-10, Stafford led the Lions (1-3) 75 yards to rookie Kerryon Johnson’s first career touchdown, an 8-yard run that started a back-and-forth final quarter.

BENGALS 37, FALCONS 36 ATLANTA (AP) — Andy Dalton threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 7 seconds remaining, lifting Cincinnati over Atlanta.

Dalton moved the Bengals 75 yards in about four minutes. He completed two passes on fourth down to Tyler Boyd, who had 11 catches for 100 yards, to keep the drive alive.

Green, the former University of Georgia star making his first return to the state of Georgia, made a diving catch in the right side of the end zone to cap the drive. He had four catches for 78 yards.

Giovani Bernard ran for 69 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati (3-1).

Matt Ryan continued his resurgence by throwing three scoring passes, including two to rookie Calvin Ridley, for the Falcons.

As was the case last week,

The Colts threw an incomplete pass on fourthand-4 from their 43, giving the ball back to Houston with 24 seconds to go.

Deshaun Watson then connected with DeAndre Hopkins on a 24-yard pass to set up the winning kick.

It’s the third time in four weeks Indy (1-3) has come up short in the closing minutes. The loss spoiled Adam Vinatieri’s record-breaking day.

The 45-year-old kicker became the league’s career leader in field goals when he made a 42-yarder with 2 seconds left in the first half and he extended the mark to 567 with a 44-yarder to give the Colts a 34-31 lead in overtime.

But Fairbairn tied the score with a 29-yard kick and won it with the 37-yarder.

SEAHAWKS 20, CARDINALS 17 GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Sebastian Janikowski, who had missed twice earlier in the game, kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired to give Seattle a victory over Arizona and spoil the debut of Cardinals rookie Josh Rosen as the starting quarterback.

The Seahawks (2-2) mounted their winning

Kamara broke the game open with scoring runs of 9, 4 and 49 yards to ice New Orleans’ third straight win and send New York to its third loss in four games.

Kamara had 134 on 19 carries.

If there was a surprise, it was the Saints’ defence, which came in ranked 30th in the league. After giving up a 2-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Sterling Shepard on the Giants’ opening drive, New Orleans limited New York to a 33-yard field goal by Aldrick Rosas in the third quarter and a late 1-yard TD run by Saquon Barkley, followed by a 2-point conversion pass from Manning to Shepard.

The anticipated slugfest between the 39-yard old Brees and the 37-yearold Manning never materialised.

Brees, who came in needing 418 yards passing to break Peyton Manning’s NFL career mark, finished 18 of 32 for 217 yards. Manning was 31 of 41 for 255 yards as the Giants (1-3) finished with just 299 total yards.

BEARS 48, BUCCANEERS 10 CHICAGO (AP) — Mitchell Trubisky threw a

victory over Tennessee in 2012.

The defence did its part, harassing Ryan Fitzpatrick before Jameis Winston took over to start the second half. And the Bears won their third straight, matching their longest run since a 3-0 start in 2013.

JAGUARS 31, JETS 12 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Blake Bortles threw two touchdown passes, including a 67-yarder to Donte Moncrief, and Jacksonville used a dominant defensive performance to handle New York.

Bortles ended up with a career-high 388 yards passing, topping 375 yards for the second time in three games.

He found T.J. Yeldon wide open for a 31-yard score in the second quarter and then beat a blitz with the deep pass to Moncrief down the sideline.

The pass to Moncrief was Jacksonville’s lone offensive highlight in an ugly second half. The Jaguars (3-1) had three turnovers that led to nine points for the Jets (1-3), who have dropped three straight.

Jets rookie Sam Darnold was harassed early and

often, getting sacked three times and nearly throwing three interceptions.

Tashaun Gipson’s pick was overturned by a holding penalty on the other side of the field, and Pro Bowl cornerbacks A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey each dropped INTs that would have ended New York’s scoring drives.

PACKERS 22, BILLS 0 GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Graham connected on their first touchdown pass of the year, and Green Bay put together its most complete defensive effort of the season in a win over the Buffalo.

Aaron Jones added 65 yards and a score on 11 carries for the Packers, who slowed in the second half after a fast start on offence.

The defence didn’t let up against the Bills. Green Bay (2-1-1) posted its first shutout since a 9-0 win over the Jets in 2010.

Rookie quarterback Josh Allen accounted for three turnovers, including two interceptions and a fumble late in the fourth quarter that stood on review. He was 16 of 33 for 151 yards.

The Bills had a much tougher time on the road in the NFC North, a week after a stunning win at heavily favored Minnesota.

Buffalo did manage to force Rodgers to throw his first interception of the year. Rodgers also fumbled the ball away early in the fourth quarter after a sack

by Taron Johnson.

But a 16-0 lead at the half was more than enough cushion against Buffalo’s feeble offence. Even the return of running back LeSean McCoy, who missed a game because of a rib injury, didn’t help the Bills (1-3).

CHARGERS 29, 49ERS 27 CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Philip Rivers threw for three touchdowns, Melvin Gordon rushed for 104 yards and Los Angeles rallied for a victory over San Francisco.

Caleb Sturgis had three field goals, including one from 21 yards with 7:41 left that gave the Chargers (2-2) the lead, but he had an eventful day with two missed extra points.

Rivers was 25 of 39 for 250 yards. Gordon had his first 100-yard game since last October 29 against New England.

Gordon and Austin Ekeler each caught touchdowns, the first time the Chargers have had two running backs catch touchdowns since Jessie Hester and Darren Sproles did it on November 22, 2010, against Denver.

C.J. Beathard, who got the start for San Francisco (1-3) after Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending knee injury last week, was 23 of 37 for 298 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, October 1, 2018, PAGE 3

Texas senior Lashann Higgs in leadership role for Longhorns

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net LASHANN Higgs heads into her senior season in a leadership role for the Texas Longhorns as the programme will be featured in five nationally televised games on the ESPN network.

The Texas women’s basketball team will have three national television appearances on ESPN2 this season.

Texas and Tennessee will meet on Sunday, December 9, in Austin. The Longhorns will face West Virginia on the road on Sunday, January 6. Texas will then host Baylor on Monday, February 4.

Higgs is one of three seniors on the Longhorns roster for the upcoming 2018-19 season.

She enters her senior season 36 points away from becoming the 44th player in programme history to reach 1,000 career points.

She comes off a season where she claimed AllBig 12 Second Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team, USWBA National Player of the Week and Big 12 Player of the Week honours.

As a junior, she started 35 games and averaged 12.8 points per game, which ranked third on the team, 3.3 rebounds per

game and was third on the squad with 1.4 steals per game. She scored in double figures on 21 occasions, including four 20-plus point performances. And Higgs was named the USBWA National Player of the Week and the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week after leading Texas to a pair of comeback wins against Oklahoma State and Kansas State.

During the two-game stretch, she averaged 28.0 points per game, shot 74.1 per cent from the field, connected on 80 per cent of her shots from beyond the arc and made 92.3 per cent (12-of-13) of her free throws. She also led the steals with 2.5 per game and added 2.0 assists per game and 2.5 rebounds per game in an average of 30.5 minutes per game.

Higgs scored a careerhigh 30 points and helped Texas overcome a six-point deficit with 3:43 remaining to defeat No. 20/23 Oklahoma State.

In her sophomore season, Higgs - the Harbour Island native averaged eight points, three rebounds, 1.5 assists and one steal in just over 17 minutes per game. She built upon the numbers from her freshman season when she averaged 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in 13.2 minutes.

LASHANN HIGGS, of the Bahamas, heads into her senior season in a leadership role for the Texas Longhorns as the programme will be featured in five nationally televised games on the ESPN network.

(AP Photo/Garett Fisbeck)

COLUMN: TIME FOR TIGER & LEFTY TO EXIT THE RYDER CUP STAGE

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Columnist SAINT-QUENTINEN-YVELINES, France (AP) — Phil Mickelson watched the ball splash into the pond in front of the 16th green and knew he was done. No need to hit any more errant shots on a day filled with them.

Lefty removed his cap and stuck out his right hand to Francesco Molinari, golf’s version of the white flag.

A few minutes earlier, Tiger Woods went through the same concession ritual at No. 17. He offered up a sad, solemn handshake to Jon Rahm after the young Spaniard banged in a short birdie putt, setting off a fiery, fist-pumping celebration by a player not much more than half Woods’ age.

For Woods and Mickelson, it was a lost week in France.

Like so many other weeks in their Ryder Cup careers.

Maybe the time has come for both of them to exit this particular stage — for the good of their country, for the good of all those young American players eager to take on a leadership role, for the good of their own legacies.

Just a few days removed from a stirring triumph at the Tour Championship, his first win in more than five years, the 42-year-old Woods shuffled through four matches at Le Golf National with all the passion of an accountant who gets called to work on a weekend. He lost two matches when paired with Patrick Reed, another when teaming with Bryson DeChambeau. Finally, he went down to Rahm when going it alone on Sunday.

The only flash of that old Tiger fire was when he missed a tiny little putt at the 14th, preventing him from closing the gap on Rahm. He blurted out an expletive, heard by everyone around the green and watching on television.

“We didn’t execute like we had planned and wanted to,” Wood said, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes largely focused on the mic in front of him at a gloomy U.S. news conference. “For me personally, I went 0-4.

Obviously very disappointing. Those are four points that aren’t going toward our side. It’s going toward their side.”

Mickelson arrived at Le Golf National fully aware that his game was a mess, especially off the tee.

Given the narrow fairways and punishing rough, it was clear the 48-year-old wouldn’t be much help to the Americans.

Lefty played one foursomes match on Friday — a crushing 5-and-4 loss paired with DeChambeau — and didn’t get on the course again until Sunday, when captain Jim Furyk had to send him out for singles. Other than a brief rally in the middle of his match against Molinari, there was never much doubt about the outcome.

“I was not playing my best,” Mickelson said. “I spent more time hitting balls throughout the week than I have all year trying to find something that would click, and it’s just been a struggle.”

Though their best years are behind them, Woods and Mickelson still have plenty to offer to golf, to the PGA Tour, to the major championships.

US players Webb Simpson, left, and Tiger Woods attend the press conference of the losing team after Europe won the 2018 Ryder Cup golf tournament at Le Golf National in Saint Quentinen-Yvelines, outside Paris, France, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Woods is a transcending figure, of course, which was never more apparent than when thousands of fans stormed onto the 18th fairway at East Lake as he was finishing off his comeback victory last weekend. Battling back from serious injuries and personal demons carried even more gravitas given all he’s accomplished in the game. It’s not unreasonable to think he might win one or two more major titles to add to the 14 he already has.

Mickelson, too, is an enormously popular player who still shows flashes of his old brilliance, as he did in March while winning the World Golf Championship in Mexico. He’s probably closer to the end than Woods but certainly not washed up by any stretch.

Then there’s the Ryder Cup, which, for whatever reason, has dealt out far

more disappointment than achievement.

As Europe romped to a seven-point victory, Woods’ career record dipped to 13-21-3. He’s played on eight of these teams but only one has captured the Cup — at Brookline, nearly two decades ago. Even then, approaching the peak of his career, he managed only a 2-3 record and is a largely forgotten figure in the historic U.S. comeback on the final day.

Woods would be the losingest player in U.S. history if not for Mickelson, who slipped to 18-22-7 with his two defeats this weekend. The Americans have won the Cup three times with Lefty on the roster, but they’ve lost nine times. His most noteworthy moment might’ve been ripping into 2014 captain Tom Watson after he was benched on Saturday at Gleneagles.

Mickelson got the same treatment from Furyk.

This time, there were no complaints. “Our captain is one of the best people

in golf,” Mickelson said, glancing toward Furyk on the dais. “Some of you might question some of the decisions, but everything was done with reason, input, thought through, and then it’s up to us to execute. We just didn’t execute.”

Mickelson isn’t ready to walk away from the Ryder Cup. “Realistically, this could very well be my last one,” he conceded. “But with these guys, I’m motivated now to work hard, to not go out on this note.

I’m motivated to play well these next two years to get back at Whistling Straits and to show what I can do in these events, because this week was not my best.”

Woods was cleared gassed by the time he got to the Ryder Cup — even Furyk said he appeared lethargic — but he’s given no indication his career is winding down. He’s surely got his sights on 2020.

“Those are two guys I’ve always looked up to,” said 29-year-old Rickie Fowler, who also had a dismal week for the Americans.

“We’ll have to wait and see, but I wouldn’t put it past either one of them to be back in two years or even four years.”

What Woods and Mickelson should do instead is follow the example of top soccer players as the years creep up on them. While they may continue to play for their club teams, even with a great deal of success, they’ll often step aside from international duty — passing the baton to the next generation in a symbolic acknowledgement that their time has passed.

While the European players celebrated outside the clubhouse Sunday evening, a private jet roared overhead.

If nothing else, it’s time for Tiger to leave the Ryder Cup stage. And take Lefty with him.

STRACHAN HAS 2ND 100-YARD GAME OF SEASON

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MICHAEL Strachan continues to be the leading receiver for the University of Charleston Cougars and one of the leaders in the Mountain East Conference.

Strachan recorded his second 100-yard game of the season but his Cougars lost their first game of the season (20-14) to the Urbana Blue Knights on Saturday in Charleston, West Virginia.

Strachan finished with a season-high seven receptions for 117 yards.

Despite holding Urbana to 106 yards of total offence the Blue Knights pulled together a drive with 3:54 to play to take the victory.

The Golden Eagles will travel to West Virginia Wesleyan on October 6.

After a brief power outage to start the game, both teams found themselves scoreless to start the second half. The UC defence held the Blue Knights to just 18 yards rushing in the first half.

Urbana opened the second half with 14 unanswered points to take the lead. Tied at 14, the Blue Knights went ahead on a touchdown with less than four minutes left to play, but the Cougars were unable to score the equaliser.

On the season, Strachan has totalled 18 receptions for 409 yards and two touchdowns.

Strachan produced the best game of his career in the Cougars’ 35-31 win over West Virginia State University.

The 6’5”, 205-pound redshirt sophomore wide receiver finished with four receptions for 159 yards and one touchdown.

On their first possession Charleston quarterback Mason Olszewiski connected with Strachan on a 59-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage. Strachan would also catch a 42-yard pass later in the quarter and a 51-yard catch in the second quarter.

In game two he caught two catches for 68 yards and one touchdown.

He also had two receptions for 17 yards against WLU and three receptions for 49 yards against Fairmont State.

Strachan was a redshirt in his true freshman season and saw the first playing time of his collegiate career last year. He recorded stats in just one game when he caught the first reception of his career for them in a 19-16 loss to the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons.

The Cougars were slotted to finish fourth in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll with 63 points. They finished the 2017 season 4-6.

Strachan entered college as a three-sport athlete following a standout career at Liberty Christian Academy.

Strachan was a member of the 2013 VISAA 1 State Championship team and received All-Conference and Honourable Mention All-Region as a senior.

He was also ranked fourth nationally in the 500m, setting a new LCA record at the Hokie Invitational.

He continues to be a twosport star for UC and is the defending Mountain East Champion in the 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay.

AUSSIE RULES GRAND FINAL: WEST COAST WINS 4TH TITLE

TIGER WOODS, of the US, attends the closing ceremony after Europe won the Ryder Cup. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The West Coast Eagles overcame an early deficit to beat the Collingwood Magpies 11.13 (79) to 11.8 (74) in the Australian Football League grand final on Saturday.

Dom Sheed kicked a six-point goal with two minutes remaining from a difficult angle as the Eagles won the Australian Rules football title for the fourth time.

The Magpies kicked the first five goals of the match before 100,022 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but West

Coast kicked four of the final five goals of the first half to trail by eight points.

Josh Kennedy led the winners with three goals. Texan Mason Cox — nicknamed the American Pie — kicked three six-point goals in Collingwood’s semifinal win. He kicked two goals from seven marks in a losing cause Saturday.

“We’ve done it the hard way this year ... we can’t wait to bring that cup home,” West Coast coach Adam Simpson said.

Collingwood could have equaled Carlton and Essendon with the most AFL premierships on 16 with a win.

PAGE 4, Monday, October 1, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

ROCKIES-DODGERS, CUBS-BREWERS DIVISION TIEBREAKERS SET FOR TODAY DENVER (AP) — The playoff-bound Colorado Rockies are headed to Los Angeles for a tiebreaking game to decide the NL West title after routing the Washington Nationals 12-0 yesterday behind Charlie Blackmon’s cycle.

Tied atop the division with the Dodgers entering the last day, the Rockies won for the ninth time in 10 games, while Los Angeles routed San Francisco to send the season to Game 163.

The one-game tiebreaker will be today at Dodger Stadium, and the loser goes to the Chicago Cubs or Milwaukee for Tuesday’s wild-card game.

Nolan Arenado hit two of the Rockies’ five homers and took over the National League lead with 37, one more than teammate Trevor Story — who also went deep. David Dahl homered for the sixth time in seven games.

Colorado (91-71), is trying for its first division title.

Blackmon finished off his first career cycle and the ninth in Rockies history with a double in the eighth.

He tripled in the first, homered in the third, singled in the fifth and struck out in the sixth.

Tyler Anderson (7-9) didn’t look the least bit bothered by a sore shoulder that sidelined him for about a week. He scattered four hits over 7 2/3 innings for his first win since July 4.

Arenado got the Rockies rolling in the first, with a two-run shot off Erick Fedde (2-4), who was starting after the Nationals elected to skip NL Cy Young Award candidate Max Scherzer.

DODGERS 15, GIANTS 0 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Justin Turner and free-swinging Los Angeles headed for a one-game showdown against Colorado, jumping on San Francisco from the start in a win for a weekend sweep.

Walker Buehler was set to start for the Dodgers (91-71) as the defending NL champions try for a sixth straight West title.

Rich Hill (11-5) pitched two-hit ball for seven innings to keep the playoffbound Dodgers on a roll.

Manny Machado, Matt Kemp and Max Muncy all joined the hit parade as Los Angeles left nothing to chance in Game No. 162.

Kemp had a two-run double and RBI single among his three hits.

Los Angeles followed up an 18-hit performance Saturday with 16 more to finish with 43 in the three-game series.

Chris Taylor drew a walk from Andrew Suarez (7-13) to begin the game, Turner followed with an RBI double and the rout was on. Brian Dozier’s two-run homer and a two-run double by Kemp highlighted a seven-run third inning.

CUBS 10, CARDINALS 5 CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo had four hits and scored three times, and Chicago set up a tiebreaker game for the NL Central title.

Jorge De La Rosa worked a hitless ninth inning to move the Cubs back into a tie with the Brewers at 95-67. Chicago hosts Milwaukee on Monday afternoon, and the winner gets a spot in the division series and homefield advantage throughout the NL playoffs. The loser plays again Tuesday night, hosting the runner-up in the NL West in the wild-card game.

Jack Flaherty (8-9) cruised into the third inning with a 2-0 lead and retired the first two batters, but the next six hitters reached, producing four runs. Rizzo hit a tiebreaking double to give him 100 RBIs on the year, waving his arms in the air as he coasted into second. Jason Heyward added an RBI single.

Allen Webster (1-0), the first of eight Chicago relievers after Mike Montgomery was pulled in the third, got two outs for the win.

BREWERS 11, TIGERS 0 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Triple Crown contender Christian Yelich and Milwaukee advanced to an NL Central tiebreaker against Chicago with its seventh straight win.

Yelich went 0 for 2 with two walks and scored twice, ending his 10-game hitting streak. He is hitting .323 in his first season with Milwaukee, locking up the first batting title in Brewers’ history.

Yelich has 109 RBIs, tied with Colorado’s Nolan Arenado and two behind leader Javier Baez of the Cubs. Yelich’s 36 home runs are tied with Colorado’s Trevor Story and St. Louis’ Matt Carpenter, one behind Arenado.

The tiebreakers are considered game No. 163 of the regular season, meaning Yelich’s stats — and those

of Arenado and Baez — from Monday’s game will count in the totals. The last NL player to win the Triple Crown was Joe Medwick in 1937 for the Cardinals.

Gio Gonzalez (10-11) toiled efficiently through five scoreless innings in his fifth start since being acquired on Aug. 31 from Washington.

Jesus Aguilar hit his 35th homer, connecting in the fourth off Spencer Turnbull (0-2). Aguilar added an RBI grounder in the seventh.

RED SOX 10, YANKEES 2 BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts claimed the big league batting title and J.D. Martinez hit his 43rd homer to lead AL East champion Boston into the playoffs with its franchiserecord 108th win.

Five days before they

Vasquez (1-0) earned the victory for the Twins with one perfect inning of relief. Trevor May replaced Belisle and got three straight outs with the tying run on second in the ninth to earn his third save.

ORIOLES 4, ASTROS 0 BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore ended a trying season with a salute to outfielder Adam Jones and a victory that could end up serving as a parting gift to manager Buck Showalter.

Jimmy Yacabonis, Paul Fry (1-2) and Mychal Givens combined on a onehitter against the AL West champions, who open the playoffs at home Friday against Cleveland.

Baltimore finished at 47-115, the most losses in franchise history and the most for a big league team since Detroit’s 119 in 2003.

FANS hold up signs in the ninth inning as the Colorado Rockies host the Washington Nationals yesterday in Denver. The Rockies won 12-0 and advance to a playoff game for the National League Western Division title against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) might meet in the postseason for the first time since Boston’s epic comeback in their cathartic 2004 World Series championship run, the teams ran out 41 players in a meaningless Game 162. Red Sox manager Alex Cora compared it to the final day of spring training.

Betts finished with a major league-best .346 average, Martinez drove in three to give him an AL-best 130 RBIs, and Rick Porcello pitched two innings of no-hit ball before leaving with a 7-0 lead in his final tuneup for the postseason. The 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner is expected to start Game 3 of the ALDS, following Chris Sale and David Price to the mound.

Eduardo Rodriguez (13-5) was credited with the win by the official scorer as the most effective reliever.

Yankees starter Luis Cessa (1-4) got just one out.

ANGELS 5, ATHLETICS 4 ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Scioscia ended his 19-year run as Los Angeles manager with a win over playoff-bound Oakland when Taylor Ward hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the ninth inning.

Scioscia, the longest-tenured manager in the major leagues, finished with a 1,650-1,428 record, including 80-82. He guided the franchise to its only World Series title in 2002.

The A’s (97-65) will face the Yankees in New York in the AL wild-card game on Wednesday.

With Los Angeles trailing 4-2, Shohei Ohtani singled off Chris Hatcher (3-3) leading off the ninth, Jefry Marte hit an RBI double and Ward followed with a drive to left-center.

Parker Bridwell (1-0) pitched the ninth for the win.

TWINS 5, WHITE SOX 4 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Mauer received one more pitch as catcher, and Minnesota likely said goodbye to the longtime face of its franchise during an emotional win over Chicago.

The 35-year-old Mauer was playing the final game of an eight-year, $184 million contract. He doubled into the left-center gap with a line drive off Juan Minaya in his final at-bat.

The 2009 AL MVP then made a surprise appearance behind the plate in the ninth, his first time catching in a game since Aug. 19, 2013. He caught one pitch from Matt Belisle, then walked off to a final standing ovation and was replaced by Chris Gimenez.

Max Kepler and Jake Cave homered for the Twins, and reliever Andrew

The Orioles were only the fifth team since 1900 to lose 115 or more.

In the top of the ninth, Showalter sent Joey Rickard in to replace Jones, who received a standing ovation as he jogged off the field. Upon his arrival in the dugout, the chain of hugs and high-fives ended with his arms wrapped around Showalter.

Brad Peacock (3-5) gave up four runs in the fourth inning, getting only one out.

MARINERS 3, RANGERS 1 SEATTLE (AP) — Roenis Elias allowed one hit in five innings, and Seattle closed out the regular season with a win in what could be the final game of Adrian Beltre’s career.

The Texas third baseman has not announced whether this was his final season, although Sunday had the feeling of finality.

Beltre played 4½ innings before being lifted before the bottom of the fifth, given a standing ovation by the crowd of 21,146. Beltre went 1 for 2 and finished with a .273 average, 15 homers and 65 RBIs. Beltre, who spent five seasons with the Mariners from 2005-09, was given a standing ovation leading off the fifth inning as a “Thank You, Adrian” message was shown on the video board.

Beltre tipped his helmet to the crowd before flying out to right field. Beltre took the field for the bottom of the fifth and was replaced

by Jurickson Profar, receiving hugs from all of his teammates on the field and in the dugout.

Elias (3-1) struck out four and walked none in a game that took just 2 hours, 14 minutes. David Freitas had an RBI double and Andrew Romine a run-scoring single off Yovani Gallardo (8-8) in the second inning. Kyle Seager added a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

PIRATES 6, REDS 5 (10 INNINGS) CINCINNATI (AP) — Pablo Reyes scored on Jackson Stephens’ wild pitch in the top of the 10th inning, rallying Pittsburgh over Cincinnati.

The Reds were one of a record eight major league teams to finish with at least 95 losses this year. There were seven in 2002.

Starling Marte and Josh Bell homered for the Pirates, who finished 82-79 — their most wins since they last made the playoffs in 2015. They head into next season with a solid rotation and bullpen, their best hopes for getting back into contention in the NL Central.

Reyes doubled off Stephens (2-3), advanced on

an error and scored on the wild pitch. Michael Feliz (1-2) pitched the ninth, and Felipe Vazquez got his 37th save in 42 chances.

METS 1, MARLINS 0 NEW YORK (AP) — Noah Syndergaard pitched his first major league shutout and New York wrapped up a disappointing season with its second consecutive 1-0 victory.

Todd Frazier hit an RBI double for the Mets, who finished fourth in the NL East at 77-85 under rookie manager Mickey Callaway — a seven-win improvement over last year.

Promising rookie Sandy Alcantara (2-3) struck out a career-high 10 over seven innings in his sixth major league start for the Marlins.

The Marlins were scoreless over their final 24 innings.

RAYS 9, BLUE JAYS 4 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Yarbrough got his rookie-leading 16th win and Tampa Bay turned another bullpen game into its 90th victory.

Ryne Stanek was Tampa Bay’s “opener” for the 29th time and went two scoreless innings. Yarbrough (16-6) followed and gave up two runs and four hits over three innings to get his 14th relief win.

The Rays went 87-60 after losing 12 of their first 15 games.

Outgoing Blue Jays manager John Gibbons decided to have some fun in the finale and let 35-year-old catcher Russell Martin manage the game.

INDIANS 2, ROYALS 1 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer combined for a five-hitter, Francisco Lindor homered and scored twice, and Cleveland beat Kansas City.

Carrasco (16-10) was working with a limited pitch count in a tuneup before an anticipated start in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against Houston on Saturday. He went five innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking two and striking out six.

Bauer took over in the sixth, hurling four scoreless innings of relief while striking out two for his first career save. Bauer ended the season with a 2.21 ERA, second in the AL to Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell.

The Indians opened the scoring after Lindor led off the game by reaching on an

error when Eric Skoglund (1-5) fumbled his grounder.

After stealing second, Lindor then stole third and scored when Alcides Escobar failed to catch the throw to third for the second error of the inning.

PHILLIES 3, BRAVES 1 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Needing a win to have a shot at home field in the NL Division Series, Atlanta lost to Philadelphia.

The Braves needed a win and a loss by both Colorado and Los Angeles to secure home-field advantage when the division series starts Thursday. The Dodgers and Rockies both ended up winning big, setting up a one-game playoff to decide the NL West.

Cesar Hernandez hit a leadoff home run, and Rhys Hoskins’ RBI double in the fifth inning helped a Phillies team that was 15 games over .500 on Aug. 5 finish with 80 wins.

Kevin Gausman (10-11) took the loss in a game where the Braves used five pitchers.

Tommy Hunter (5-4) earned the win in relief for the Phillies, and Seranthony Dominguez got his 16th save to end a season where expectations soared in early August only to become unraveled in one of the bigger — but not close to the biggest — late-season collapses in team history.

PADRES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 3 (10 INNINGS) SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manuel Margot scored on a dropped third strike in the 10th inning to lift San Diego past Arizona.

The Diamondbacks, a playoff team last year who led the NL West on the first day of every month this season, ran out of steam to finish in third place, nine games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies.

Margot, who also homered on a 3-for-5 afternoon, reached in the 10th on his career-high eighth triple. When Jake Barrett (0-1) struck out pinch-hitter Francisco Mejia and the ball got away from John Ryan Murphy, Margot raced home on Murphy’s throw to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The relay back to home was tardy.

Arizona went ahead 3-2 in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Socrates Brito, but the Padres tied it 3-3 on Eric Hosmer’s bloop single to left. Jose Castillo (3-3) pitched the 10th for the win.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, October 1, 2018, PAGE 5

Europe finishes off dominant week to win back Ryder Cup

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) — Europe waited two long years for that one moment when the Ryder Cup was back in its hands.

Exactly when it happened yesterday was unclear, making it all the better.

At roughly the same time, in two singles matches on two greens at Le Golf National separated by 150 yards of water, Francesco Molinari and Sergio Garcia each made par to secure at least a halfpoint, either one giving Europe the 14½ points it needed to regain the Ryder Cup from the Americans.

As the celebration was just getting started, Molinari capped off the first 5-0 week at the Ryder Cup for a European.

Three of those points came at the expense of Tiger Woods, who left France without contributing a point. Molinari won his singles match against Phil Mickelson, officially putting the winning point on the board for Europe and putting Mickelson in the record book for the most losses in Ryder Cup history.

Then, Garcia won his match to set the record for the most career points in Ryder Cup history.

It was like that all week.

Europe produced stars old and new with a team that was as strong as ever.

“We got it right this week,” European captain Thomas Bjorn said. “We never, ever looked toward their team about what they were about. We were about us as a team and what we do. ... Everything that this Ryder Cup was is what I think the Ryder Cup should be about for a European team.”

Mostly, it’s about winning.

The final shot came from Alex Noren, who after conceding a short birdie putt to Bryson DeChambeau on the 18th hole, made a 40-foot birdie putt to win the match. That made it 17½-10½, the biggest Ryder Cup rout in 12 years.

Two years after the Americans thought they had their Ryder Cup

EUROPE team captain Thomas Bjorn kisses the cup as he celebrates with his players after the Europeans won the 2018 Ryder Cup golf tournament yesterday.

(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) problems figured out, Europe reminded them Sunday which team practically has owned that shiny gold trophy for the last quarter-century.

Europe now has won nine of the last 12. The Americans remain winless away from home since 1993.

And there wasn’t much US captain Jim Furyk could do about it.

“They played some great golf this week, and I take my cap off,” Furyk said. “Thomas was a better captain and their team outplayed us. And there’s nothing else more you can say. They deserved to win.”

Molinari was just as good on his own as he was with Tommy Fleetwood, and the best year of his golfing life somehow got better.

Just over two months ago, he was posing with that silver claret jug at the British Open as Italy’s first major champion. This felt just as sweet because it was a trophy he shared with a team.

“This team has been incredible from the start,” Molinari said. “We were determined to do the job.

Nothing was going to stop us. And you saw it on the course.”

It was the most lopsided victory since consecutive 18½-9½ victories

by Europe more than a decade ago when the Americans looked utterly lost. They formed a Ryder Cup Task Force after the 2014 loss.

The idea was to build continuity

and momentum, and it seemed to work when the Americans won at Hazeltine in 2016.

Now, maybe it’s back to the drawing board.

“Let’s be honest — the European side played some exquisite golf,” Mickelson said.

The same couldn’t be said for Mickelson or Woods, two giants of their generation, both with losing records in the Ryder Cup. Mickelson didn’t even play on Saturday and lost his matches on Friday and Sunday. He started the week by setting a record with his 12th appearance in the Ryder Cup, and it ended with 22 losses, a record by either side. At 48, he might not get another chance.

“I did not play well this year,” Mickelson said. “This could very well, realistically, by my last one.”

Woods was 0-4, the first time in eight Ryder Cups that he failed to contribute a single point. This was one week after he capped a personal comeback following four back surgeries by winning the Tour Championship, the 80th of his PGA Tour career and first in more than five years.

But he looked like he lacked energy on the course and certainly in his speech over the last two days.

“It’s disappointing because I went 0-4, and that’s four points to the European team,” he said.

“And I’m one of the contributing factors to why we lost the cup, and

it’s not a lot of fun. It’s frustrating because I thought we were all playing pretty well, and I just didn’t perform at the level that I had been playing, and just got behind early in the matches and never got back.”

But this was more about the Europeans as a team, and they were tougher than ever on a course they know well.

Trailing 10-6 going into the final day of singles, the Americans needed to put red points on the board early to build momentum. It never happened.

Justin Thomas won the leadoff match over Rory McIlroy but not until the 18th hole.

Webb Simpson and Tony Finau, the lone bright spot among the wild-card picks for Furyk, won easily. Behind them, Woods was hanging tough against Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson started to pull ahead of Ian Poulter.

“There’s always a moment where it looks like a spark of light,” Furyk said. “When it was there for us, Europe played really well.”

It wasn’t there long.

Rahm won two straight holes with pars to seize control. Johnson hit into the water on the 13th during a four-hole slide that took him from 1 up to 2 down, a match Poulter wound up winning.

Thorbjorn Olesen, who had played only one match the previous two days, went 5 up at the turn over Jordan Spieth and won in 14 holes. Spieth is now 0-6 in singles matches in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Garcia was in tears.

He played so poorly this year that he failed to qualify for the PGA Tour’s postseason. Bjorn picked him anyway, saying he was the heart and soul of the European team, and Garcia responded by going 3-1. His victory over Rickie Fowler gave him 25½ points in a Ryder Cup career that began in 1999.

“I think that a lot of people thought that the Ryder Cup was over before it was played,” Garcia said. “And I guess, unfortunately, they picked the wrong team.”

HAMILTON WINS RUSSIAN GP AFTER TEAMMATE LETS HIM THROUGH

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Lewis Hamilton won the Russian Grand Prix and closed in on his fifth Formula One title, but he’s not happy.

Victory was handed to Hamilton by his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, who pulled over to let him through on orders from the team.

“It’s never, ever in my whole life been the way that I wanted to win a race,” said Hamilton, who said Mercedes overrode his objections to the switch. Passing Bottas “did not feel good.”

Hamilton cruised to victory after the switch and now leads Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel by 50 points in the standings as both chase their fifth title. Even if Vettel wins all five remaining races, he’s no longer guaranteed to beat Hamilton.

Hamilton held off a challenge from Vettel at the start and overtook him after the German briefly got ahead at the pit stops, but by lap 25, he was again under serious pressure from Vettel.

Soon the call came through.

“You need to let Lewis by into turn 13 this lap,” was the team’s message to Bottas, who could have

MERCEDES driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates winning while Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, applauds after the Russian Formula One Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom circuit in Sochi, Russia, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Sergei Grits) taken his first win this year. Seconds later, the Finn eased over to the side of the track.

“I assured Valtteri it’s not something I asked for, but it’s what the team feels is right to do. It’s a very awkward position to be in,” Hamilton said. “There are not many teammates who would do something like that.”

It was Hamilton’s fifth win in six races and Mercedes’ third one-two finish this year.

Team orders, as such coordinated passes are known, have been used for decades and are allowed under F1 rules. But they have a history of alienating fans who would prefer to see competitive racing.

Mercedes strategist James Vowles defended the move by saying Hamilton had a “small blister” on his tire and could have fallen behind Vettel. Vettel, who finished third, said he held

no malice toward Hamilton and Bottas for their switch.

“Well done to both of them.

They played together as a team very well,” said Vettel. “I think in the position that they are, it’s a nobrainer what they did today.”

Starting one place behind Hamilton in third, Vettel tried and failed to overtake him off the start and failed to take advantage when Hamilton missed a chance to get past Bottas into the second corner.

On a Russian track that makes overtaking tricky, the main drama came when Hamilton came out just behind Vettel after stopping on lap 14, sparking a brief but fierce battle between the two title rivals.

Vettel locked a wheel while lining up a move on Bottas, allowing Hamilton to close in before the start-finish straight, but when Hamilton tried to overtake, Vettel cut him off and forced him toward the wall. Hamilton hung on to Vettel around the long left-hander of turn 3 and charged up the inside into the right-angle turn 4 to retake second. “It was a question of who was going to brake earlier at the next corner and I wanted it more,” Hamilton said.

Winning start for Kawhi Leonard with Raptors KAWHI Leonard is finally back on the court and the Toronto Raptors should be happy with the results.

Leonard scored 12 points in his first game with his new team and the Raptors beat the Portland Trail Blazers 122-104 on Saturday night in Vancouver, British Columbia, in the preseason opener for both teams.

Leonard played 19 minutes and didn’t shoot particularly well, missing all four 3-pointers and going just 6 for 11 from the free throw line. But he played aggressively and moved well after being limited to just nine games last season for San Antonio because of a thigh injury. The 2014 NBA Finals MVP hadn’t played in a game since January.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum each played the first quarter for Portland. Lillard scored 12 points and McCollum had nine.

MAVERICKS 116, BEIJING DUCKS 63 No. 3 overall pick Luka Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr scored 16

points apiece for Dallas. Doncic, a 19-year-old who was named EuroLeague MVP and EuroLeague Final Four MVP while leading Real Madrid to the title, made 5 of 7 from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, while grabbing six rebounds and blocking three shots.

Smith was 6-of-10 shooting and had six assists with no turnovers.

Maxi Kleber added 15 points for the Mavericks (1-0).

Justin Hamilton, who appeared in 113 games and started 21 across three seasons in the NBA, led Beijing with 29 points and 13 rebounds. He shot 6 of 19 from the field but made 15 of 17 from the free throw line.

TIMBERWOLVES 114, WARRIORS 110 Jeff Teague scored 17 points and Derrick Rose added 16 for Minnesota, which was without All-Star Jimmy Butler, who requested a trade from the team last week.

Anthony Tolliver scored 15 points, hitting 5 of 10 from 3-point range. Karl-Anthony Towns had

points in 19 minutes for Golden State (0-1). Klay Thompson scored 17, including three 3-pointers, and Kevin Durant added 16 points.

JAZZ 130, PERTH WILDCATS 72 Rookie Grayson Allen hit five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points and Alec Burks scored 18 for Utah (1-0). Burks made 4 of 6 from 3-point range, grabbed five boards and had four assists in 21 minutes.

Rudy Gobert had 14 points, on 6-of-7 shooting, and nine rebounds for the Jazz.

Bryce Cotton led Perth (0-1) with 14 points, Terrico White scored 11 and Nick Kay 10. The trio combined to shoot just 10 of 43 (23.3 per cent) from the field, including one of 11 from 3-point range.

12 points, Andrew Wiggins scored 11 and rookie Josh Okogie 10 for the Timberwolves (1-0).

Stephen Curry made 5-of-9 3-pointers and finished with 21

RAPTORS forward Kawhi Leonard (2) scores in the second half of Saturday’s preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP)

MOLINARI (AP)

FRANCESCO MOLINARI: BRITISH OPEN CHAMP, NOW RYDER CUP HERO

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer SAINT-QUENTIN-ENYVELINES, France (AP) — Francesco Molinari walked straight into the heart of a throng of rowdy European fans beside the 16th tee and was soon covered with beer from plastic pint pots.

He finally managed to yank himself free, only for his teammates to lift him off his feet. His captain, Thomas Bjorn, emerged through a mass of cameras and grabbed his star player by both cheeks.

“MOLI! MOLI, MOLI! MOLI MOLI! MOLI MOLINARI!” the jubilant spectators roared in a chant that swept across Le Golf National.

British Open champion.

Now Europe’s recordbreaking Ryder Cup hero.

It’s been quite a few months for the little Italian with a big heart.

“I couldn’t dream,” Molinari said, “of a summer like this.”

How fitting that it fell to Molinari to clinch the winning point for Europe at the Ryder Cup yesterday.

His 4-and-2 win over Phil Mickelson, sealed when the American conceded the match after dumping a tee shot into the water at No. 16, gave Molinari a fifth point of the week.

Molinari is the first European, and second player overall in the competition’s current format, to go 5-0 at a Ryder Cup. He had teamed with close friend Tommy Fleetwood to win four points in fourballs and foursomes matches over Friday and Saturday.

He finished the Ryder Cup without playing the 18th hole. He only made it to No. 17 once.

“You know this golf course has 18 holes, right?”

Sergio Garcia asked Molinari at a news conference held by all members of the European team.

This is a very different Molinari to the one that played in Europe’s winning teams in 2010 and ‘12, claiming just half a point in each of them. He halved his singles match with Tiger Woods at Medinah to ensure Europe didn’t just retain the cup but won it outright, yet he didn’t feel he really contributed.

“My record was pretty shocking coming into this week,” he said.

Molinari has been transformed since he started working with Dave Alred, an elite performance coach who helps players improve the mental side of their game. He was taken out of his comfort zone in practice sessions, which became more intense so they resembled the strains of competition.

The rewards arrived this year. In May, he won the BMW PGA Championship — the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth. In July, he won the Quicken Loans National on the PGA Tour and then lifted the claret jug at Carnoustie following a nerveless final round of 69 playing in the last group with Woods. He became the first Italian to win a major.

Molinari is now ranked No. 5 and, according to Padraig Harrington, a “world-class player.”

“He has always been a great ball-striker ... Now he has consistency,” said Harrington, one of Europe’s vice captains.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, October 1, 2018, PAGE 7

India wins Asia Cup final in dramatic style on last ball DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — India successfully defended the Asia Cup title in the most dramatic fashion, beating Bangladesh in a lastball thriller on Friday.

India was chasing a modest target of 223 at Dubai International Stadium, after winning the toss and inviting Bangladesh to bat first.

Despite its batting prowess and wealth of experience, India almost failed to reach that target as the tension reached breaking point.

It was left to a limping Kedar Jadhav to face the final ball with the scores level. He tried to flick it down to the fine leg boundary and failed to do so, but India got a single leg bye and did just enough.

“I am really proud of the team. We played very good cricket throughout the series and this is reward for the hard work,” captain Rohit Sharma said.

“Let me not take away any credit from the Bangladesh team because they have been fantastic. They started really well and then bowled very well too.”

India won the tournament for the seventh time, having beaten

and assured 121 featuring 12 fours and two sixes. He put on 120 runs for the first wicket with surprise opener Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who managed just 32 of them before being caught in the 21st over off Jadhav. After that, the Bangladesh innings faded.

“I thought our spinners did very well in containing them and building the pressure to restrict them to 222,” Sharma said.

Jadhav finished with 2-41 in nine overs, while Yadav got a decent return of 3-45 from 10 overs.

Sharp Indian fielding accounted for three run outs, including the dangerous No. 7 Soumya Sarkar for 33 just as he was looking set for a big score.

Earlier, the fluent Das reached his 50 off 33 balls. He was then dropped on 52 by Yuzvendra Chahal when he miscued a sweep off Ravindra Jadeja, but was otherwise in control as he reached 100 from 87 balls. Das was finally stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Yadav.

It ultimately proved to be the key breakthrough, as Bangladesh fell agonisingly short of its first Asia Cup win after reaching the final for the third time.

INDIAN players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Asia Cup final cricket match against Bangladesh early Saturday.

(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Bangladesh in the 2016 final — played as a Twenty20 format.

Jadhav was forced to retired hurt with a hamstring injury, but came out again at the fall of the sixth wicket — with India on 212-6 — and finished unbeaten on 23.

Kuldeep Yadav was the other unbeaten batsman, on five, as India reached 223-7 to win by three wickets.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza felt his side should have cashed in after a good start, but was also proud of the way his side battled to defend a relatively low score.

“After finally getting a good start, we should have scored a lot more. We had a lot of hope from our middle-order, but they failed to deliver this time,” he said.

“We bowled well, but we were never really in the match defending that total.”

None of the Indian batsmen reached 50, with Sharma leading with 48. Dinesh Karthik contributed 37 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 36.

The Bangladesh innings was built around a first one day international century by opener Liton Das, who struck

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

ORLANDO

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 75° F/24° C

TAMPA

uV inDex toDay

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Partly sunny, a t‑storm; breezy

Mainly clear, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Mostly sunny and breezy

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm; breezy

Partly sunny, breezy and pleasant

High: 87°

Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 75°

High: 86° Low: 75°

High: 87° Low: 75°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

94° F

83° F

94°-80° F

92°-80° F

92°-79° F

94°-79° F

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

8‑16 knots

S

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

8‑16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

E

Tomic wins Chengdu Open CHENGDU, China (AP) — Bernard Tomic upset top-seeded Fabio Fognini 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7) to win the Chengdu Open championship yesterday.

The 25-year-old Australian, ranked No. 123 in the world, smashed 12 aces and saved seven of 11 break points he faced to win his first ATP title since Bogota 2015.

TONIGHT

N

W

BEIJING (AP) — Top-ranked Simona Halep retired yesterday from her first-round match at the China Open.

Halep lost the first set 6-1 to Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur before retiring with a back injury that she also had problems with at last week’s HALEP (AP) Wuhan Open.

Third-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany cruised past Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 6-2 to reach the second round.

Defending champion Caroline Garcia of France survived an early scare against Chinese wildcard Wang Yafan to win 7-6 (10), 6-7 (4), 6-3. Americans Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens both won their matches to advance, while CoCo Vandeweghe was beaten by Slovenian qualifier Polona Hercog 6-2, 6-1.

TODAY

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N

HALEP RETIRES FROM CHINA OPEN 1ST ROUND WITH BACK INJURY

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C

8‑16 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 86° F/30° C Low .................................................... 75° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 86° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 74° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 95° F/35° C Last year’s low ................................... 76° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.24” Year to date ............................................... 42.50” Normal year to date ................................... 29.13”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 83° F/28° C

High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

12:32 a.m.

1:08 p.m.

2.8 3.3

6:42 a.m.

7:40 p.m.

0.6 0.9

Tuesday

1:32 a.m.

2:12 p.m.

2.7 3.3

7:43 a.m.

8:45 p.m.

0.7 0.9

Wednesday 2:40 a.m.

3:19 p.m.

2.7 3.3

8:51 a.m.

9:52 p.m.

0.7 0.8

Thursday

3:49 a.m.

4:24 p.m.

2.8 3.4

10:01 a.m. 0.6 10:55 p.m. 0.6

Friday

4:55 a.m.

5:26 p.m.

3.0 3.5

11:08 a.m. 0.5 11:52 p.m. 0.4

Saturday

5:55 a.m.

6:22 p.m.

3.2 3.5

12:09 p.m. 0.3 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Sunday

6:50 a.m.

7:14 p.m.

3.4 3.6

12:44 a.m. 0.2 1:06 p.m. 0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

8‑16 knots

S

8‑16 knots

ANDROS

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau

7:02 a.m.

6:57 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

none 1:05 p.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Oct. 2

Oct. 8

Oct. 16

Oct. 24

CAT ISLAND

E

W

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

H

E

W

8‑16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

8‑16 knots

8‑16 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS NE at 8‑16 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 12‑25 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 10‑20 Knots

WAVES 4‑8 Feet 6‑10 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑8 Feet 4‑7 Feet 2‑4 Feet 4‑8 Feet 5‑9 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑7 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑8 Feet 4‑8 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 85° F 84° F 86° F 84° F 85° F 82° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 86° F 84° F 86° F 85° F 86° F 85° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 85° F 84° F 85° F 85° F

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