SPORTS SECTION E
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018
Hero World Challenge tees off today By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
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he 2018 Hero World Challenge tees off today with several compelling storylines to follow, including the host’s return as a legitimate contender, an Albany resident having one of the best seasons of his career and the defending champion’s bid to repeat following last year’s record-setting final round. For the fourth consecutive year, the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge will be hosted at the Albany resort and continues through Sunday. The event traditionally features 18 of the top golfers on the PGA Tour. Tournament host Tiger Woods will again be the
primary focus of the international golf community following last month’s return to the pinnacle of the sport when he won the Tour Championship. The win was the 80th tour title for Woods – but his first since August 2013. Woods comes into this event ranked No.13, while less than a year ago he was ranked No. 1,199 following his spinal fusion surgery and a host of other operations. “Well, one of the great things about the Bahamas is for us to come down here, enjoy the weather, come down here and enjoy just the scenery, the clear water. It’s just very relaxed and very laid back. I think anyone who’s come down here to experience Albany here in particular, everyone always enjoys it. The
TIGER WOODS fact that we have a worldclass golf tournament, Hero World Challenge, here just adds to the environment,” Woods said. “We’re excited, and we’re excited to have Hero with
us for the next four years. They’ve been an incredible partner over the last four, and this is -- for us, this was our first international event. “Partnering up with an international global company like Hero has been great for us and what we’re trying to do in our expansion of our foundation and our digital platforms for kids, growing it internationally, Hero’s going to be a big part of that going forward, so we’re excited about that part of it. “From just a golf side of it, the players have always enjoyed this event, they’ve always come down and have played, and there’s no better place than having it here at Albany here in the Bahamas. Everyone enjoys it. It’s supposed to be great weather for the rest of the
week and we’re going to all have some fun.” Justin Rose, who currently holds the No. 2 position in the Official World Golf Ranking, headlines a field that also includes six players in the top 10. Rose, a native of England but resident at Albany, secured the overall FedEx Cup which determines the season-long PGA Tour champion. Rose called the tournament a showcase for golf in the Bahamas. “It’s a nice commute this week for sure, just jump in the golf cart and head up to the course. Obviously, I’ve seen the preparation, everyone’s worked really hard here for a couple months getting the course ready, getting this event ready. So
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Ayton posts new milestones By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net DEANDRE Ayton continues to post new milestones during his rookie season for the Phoenix Suns. Ayton finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the Suns’ 109104 loss to the Indiana Pacers at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday night. He became just the fourth player in the past 25 years to score at least 300 points and grab 200 rebounds in his first 20 NBA Games. Ayton joins fellow former No.1 overall picks Blake Griffin, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal on the list. Indiana led by as many as 13 points in the second and third quarters, but Phoenix used a 15-2 run late in the third and early in the fourth to go ahead. With the game tied at 101, the Pacers made two three pointers on their final three possessions to go ahead for good. “In the first half we weren’t putting that much resistance on them at first. They threw the first punch in the first half but we came back and threw one in the second half. We started competing against them and they were a lot more physical than we thought. It was a physical battle on the glass,” Ayton said. “We just needed to turn it up a notch to force them into other shots. We get better every game, we just have to figure it out. When we are starting we were getting blown out by 20 by half and now we’re starting to lockdown, conditioning is there now, we just have to finish out games. We knocked down some big shots out of the timeouts but defensively that’s where we have to get better,” he said. Ayton totalled 14 points and seven rebounds in the first half alone. “We have a young centre in Ayton, is going to have some ups and downs. He’s going to have some moments where he needs
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NFL Picks
Week 13 , Page 5
CORNISH MATCHES CAREER HIGH 22 POINTS IN WIN OVER SPARTANS By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net JARON Cornish had a career-high scoring night to propel the Stony Brook Sea Wolves to their best start of their D-I era while Nathan Bain has thrived in a new role with the Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks. Cornish matched a career high with 22 points in the Sea Wolves’ 79-73 win over the Norfolk State Spartans. The senior guard was an efficient 8-11 shooting from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range. He also added five rebounds and four assists in a team high 38 minutes on the floor. Stony Brook improved to 6-1 with its fifth road win of the season. “I’m really happy about the performance that Jaron put together. He was able to lead us down the stretch and to the win,” said Sea Wolves head coach Jeff Boals. “Really proud of the way the guys stepped up and do what they did in order to pull out this victory. We were able to take care of the ball in the second half and that was definitely key to us winning. We had to play some young guys and younger lineups and they
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LASHANN HIGGS GETS READY FOR REHAB By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
PACERS forward Domantas Sabonis shoots over Phoenix Suns centre Deandre Ayton, right, during the first half Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) help and some support,” Phoenix coach Igor Kokoskov said. “I think the awareness in the second half is something that we needed, that’s how we have to play.” Earlier this month, Ayton set the mark for most double doubles to start a season by a Suns player since Steve Nash’s MVP season in 2009. The rookie centre is averaging 17 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.7
assists per game on 62 per cent shooting from the field. He is ranked third in the league and leads all rookies with 12 double doubles on the season. Ayton is also the leading rebounder among rookies, is second in scoring and field goal percentage and is fourth in assists. He moved up two spots on NBA.com’s Kia NBA Rookie Ladder behind Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic.
“Ayton climbs two rungs after two weeks of solid play. The more opportunities I have to watch Ayton, the more I leave impressed and certain he’ll be a star in this league for many years,” said NBA. com’s Drew Packham. “He’s still struggling to defend like you’d hope from a 7-footer (just three blocks in last eight games), but the offensive numbers back him as a force inside,” he added.
DESPITE the setback of the first major injury of her career, Bahamian basketball star Lashann Higgs remains in perspective as she prepares for the rehab process. “Not quite how I wanted my senior season to end but God knows best! Sometimes we may wonder why or try to understand why things happen but it’s important to know that God is in control,” Higgs posted on social media. “I will be back stronger and wiser than before. I’m so thankful for my teammates, family and friends and the support of you all! Like they say a small setback for a major comeback.” The Longhorns won the Gulf Coast Showcase tournament title, but suffered a major loss when Higgs went down with a knee injury in a hard-fought 56-55 win over Quinnipiac last Friday. She was diagnosed with a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee. Higgs went down late in the first half before being carried off the court by members of the Longhorns staff.
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