Francella needs four extra holes to beat Sorenstam
Golf Betting Lines
03/12/2007 - Mexico City, Mexico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Meaghan Francella needed four playoff holes Monday to defeat Annika Sorenstam and win the MasterCard Classic for her first tour title.
Francella posted a three-under 69 Monday to join Sorenstam at 11-under-par 205. Sorenstam, playing one group ahead of Francella, fired a six-under 66 to force the extra session.
Four weather delays over the first three days of the event forced the Monday finish at The Bosque Real Country Club.
In the extra session, Francella and Sorenstam played the 18th hole four times before the winner was decided. Each two-putted for birdie the first time around, then each made par the second and third time they played 18.
The fourth time around Francella dropped in a birdie putt for the win as Sorenstam, who won this event the first two years it was played, was only able to make par.
Francella began the day three ahead of Sorenstam. Both ladies birdied four and five. The first big swing came at the sixth, where Sorenstam birdied the par- five, while Francella stumbled to a bogey.
The 24-year-old Francella led by one at that point. Sorenstam briefly erased that lead with a birdie at the ninth. However, Francella also birdied No. 9 to remain one clear of the Swede.
Around the turn, Sorenstam took control. A birdie on the 10th gave her a share of the lead. The 36-year-old Sorenstam converted back-to-back birdies from the 13th to move two clear.
The next big turning point was the 16th. Sorenstam faltered to a bogey on the par-five. Francella followed that with a birdie to forge a tie for the lead at 11-under. Each woman parred the final two holes to force the extra session.
Stacy Prammanasudh, who won two weeks ago in Hawaii, closed with a one-under 71. She was joined in a share of third place at eight-under-par 208 by Kyeong Bae (67) and Angela Stanford (67).
Local favorite and women's World No. 3 Lorena Ochoa carded a two-under 70 in the final round to end in a tie for sixth. She ended alongside Shi Hyun Ahn and Hye Jung Choi at minus-six. Karin Sjodin, Sherri Steinhauer and Seon-Hwa Lee were one stroke further back at five-under-par 211.
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Bills have re-signed running back Anthony Thomas, just days after trading Willis McGahee to the Baltimore Ravens. Thomas, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher, joined the Bills last season and ran
<< Former tour player Bud Allin dies
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former PGA Tour and Champions Tour
player Bud Allin passed away on Saturday after battling several forms of
cancer. He was 62.
"Bud Allin's life was one of service and commitment, whether
<< Towson extends Kennedy's contract
Towson, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Towson University announced Monday that men's
head basketball coach Pat Kennedy has agreed to a contract extension that will
run through the 2010-11 season.
The Tigers have improved each year under Kennedy'
<< Grizzlies ready to go on vacation
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Memphis owns the worst record in the NBA and is headed
towards the lottery. The Grizzlies are a dismal 16-48 and are 14 games behind
the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western
Confere
<< This Week in Golf - March 15th through March 18th
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - PGA TOUR -
ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL, Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando, Florida - The
PGA Tour remains in Florida for the third of four straight events in the
Sunshine State.
Formerly known as t
Fort Collins, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colorado State fired head men's basketball coach Dale Layer, director of athletics Paul Kowalczyk announced Monday. "After evaluating our men's basketball program over the past season and seeing where we
Niners sign veteran CB Harris >>
Palo Alto, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco 49ers signed cornerback
Walt Harris to an extension on Monday.
Harris intercepted a career-high and NFC-leading eight passes last season,
earning All-NFC honors twice and a Pro Bowl
Wyoming terminates McClain >>
Laramie, WY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Wyoming has announced that
the contract of head men's basketball coach Steve McClain has been terminated,
effective immediately.
"The University of Wyoming appreciates Steve's service her
Marshall parts ways with Jirsa >>
Huntington, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marshall announced Monday that Ron Jirsa
will not be retained as head men's basketball coach for next season.
The Thundering Herd finished this past season 13-19 overall and 7-9 in
Conference USA
Texans re-sign Bruener >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Texans have re-signed tight end
Mark Bruener.
Bruener came to the Texans as an unrestricted free agent in 2004 after nine
seasons in Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-4, 256 pound veteran caught nine p
MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.
Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.
According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).
Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.
''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.
Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.
''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''
Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.
”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.
For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.