Furyk in control at Hilton Head
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C., April 14 (UPI) -- PGA Tour veteran Jim Furyk seized the lead Friday after 36 holes of the Verizon Heritage Classic at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
He has a 2-stroke lead over a group of four players after carding a 4-under 67 on Friday.
"It's easy to keep things going when you're rolling in a bunch of birdie putts," the 2003 U.S. Open winner said after his round, which included six birdies. Furyk tied for second at the Verizon event place last year, behind Peter Lonard.
Aaron Baddeley (67), first-round leader Vaughn Taylor (70), Brian Gay (67) and Duffy Waldorf (68) are tied at 9-under 133. Baddeley punctuated his round with an eagle at 18.
Geoff Ogilvy (68) and Billy Mayfair (69) both shared the lead with Furyk late in their rounds, but ended the day in a tie for sixth place at 8-under 134.
Among those missing the cut were Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Price and Mark Calcavecchia.
David Lynn leads the Volvo Open
BEIJING, April 14 (UPI) -- David Lynn Friday shot 5-under-par 67 and has a one-stroke lead over Jose-Filipe Lima after two rounds of the Volvo China Open in Beijing.
Through 36 holes, Lynn is nine-under 135.
During his round, the British-born Lynn, who is competing with a sore groin, played the back nine first and opened with birdies on 10 and 12 to move to minus-six. He birdied 14 for the second straight round, but stumbled to a bogey at the next hole. He made three straight birdies at one point.
Lima (69) was one of six players tied for second after the opening round. First-round leader Christian Cevaer struggled to an even-par 72 on Friday and is tied for fifth with Scott Drummond (67) and Rahil Gangjee (70) at six-under 138.
Pre-tournament favorite Henrik Stenson (68) is 3-under 141.
Safin makes semis at Valencia
VALENCIA, Spain, April 14 (UPI) -- Two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin of Russia led Friday's quarterfinal winners at the Valencia tennis Open in Spain.
In the round of eight, Safin, a wild-card entrant this year and a former world No. 1, beat second-seeded Gaston Gaudio of Argentina, 6-4, 6-4.
Seventh-seeded Fernando Verdasco was a 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-3, winner over fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Qualifier Nicolas Almagro of Spain topped sixth-seeded Filippo Volandri of Italy, 6-4, 6-1. And Gilles Simon of France beat Andreas Seppi of Italy, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4).
In Saturday's semifinals, Safin faces Almagro and Verdasco will play Simon.
The winner on Sunday will earn $46,700.
Henin-Hardenne makes semis at Charleston
CHARLESTON, S.C., April 14 (UPI) -- Reigning champion Justine Henin-Hardenne won her quarterfinal match Friday at the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament in Charleston, S.C.
Henin-Hardenne beat Dinara Safina of Russia, 6-4, 6-1, to improve to 14-0 lifetime at the Family Circle Cup. Henin-Hardenne is 21-3 this season, including two titles in five events.
No. 2 seed Nadia Petrova, who won last week's tournament at Amelia Island, Fla., blasted Catalina Castano of Colombia, 6-2, 6-0, Friday. Petrova, who has won 15 of her last 16 matches and eight in a row, is seeking her third title in four tournaments.
Third-seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland beat 8th-seed Nathalie Dechy of France, 6-0, 6-3, and Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany surprised fourth-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
In Saturday's semifinals, Henin-Hardenne will face Schnyder and Groenefeld will play Petrova.
The 2006 Charleston champion will claim $196,900.
Taylor gets contract extension at ODU
NORFOLK, Va., April 14 (UPI) -- Old Dominion University has added two years to the contract of men's basketball coach Blaine Taylor.
Athletic Director Jim Jarrett said the deal runs through the 2010-11 season.
In five years at the Norfolk, Va.-based school, Taylor has an overall mark of 93-58. Last season, the Monarchs went 24-10.
"I am delighted that we will be continuing this great relationship with Blaine and Old Dominion University," Jarrett said on the school's Web site. "The (ODU) program is enjoying tremendous growth under Blaine's leadership and I am particularly pleased with the type of student athlete he recruits and the quality of his ethics."
Taylor was named Coach of the Year in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2005, when ODU won a school-record 28 games. The school won the CAA Tournament that year to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
In 12 years as a head coach, Taylor's overall record is 235-124.
Roger Mayweather fined, suspended
LAS VEGAS, Nev., April 14 (UPI) -- The Nevada State Athletic Commission has fined Roger Mayweather for his part in a brawl during his nephew's IBF welter-weight title fight last Saturday.
Mayweather jumped in the ring after Zab Judah connected on a hard low blow at his fighter, Floyd Mayweather Jr., late in the 10th round. The blow caused Mayweather Jr. to double over in pain.
During the melee, Judah's trainer and father, Yoel Judah, threw a right hand at Roger Mayweather.
Roger Mayweather was fined $200,000 and suspended for one year, the International Boxing Federation said Friday.
The commission held both fighters' purses after the bout. Mayweather Jr., who won with a unanimous decision, has received his guaranteed $5 million, but Judah's money remains on hold.
Reports say several members of Judah's camp also face major suspensions, fines and possible further action by a court of law once there is a frame by frame investigation of video tape of the incident.
