Mediate seizes the lead at Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla., March 16 (UPI) -- Rocco Mediate has a three-shot lead midway through the PGA's Arnold Palmer Invitational Golf Tournament at Orlando, Fla.
In Friday's second round, Mediate separated himself from Thursday's three-way tie at the top by shooting 5-under-par 65. His 36-hole score is 9-under 131.
"Things are coming around," the 44-year-old Mediate said. "I'm re-learning the game now."
Mediate has been hampered by back problems and hasn't won since 2002, and is competing in this tournament on a medical exemption.
"If my body feels good, I know I still can compete a little bit with these guys," he said.
Mediate's playing partner, Paul Casey (70), and John Rollins (65) are tied for second place at 6-under 134.
Sergio Garcia (69) shares fourth place at 5-under 135 with four others, including former PGA Tournament champion Shaun Micheel (68).
Tiger Woods (73), another overnight co-leader, is tied for 13th at 3-under 137, six shots back.
Irwin ties course record at Valencia
VALENCIA, Calif., March 16 (UPI) -- Hale Irwin eagled his final hole Friday to complete a first round of 8-under 64, good for a two-shot lead at the AT&T Champions Classic in Valencia, Calif.
Irwin tied the Valencia Country Club course record -- set in 2001 by Larry Nelson and Walter Morgan, and matched by Joe Inman in 2004 and Tom Kite last year, when Kite won this event.
Isao Aoki shot a 6-under 66, to finish in a tie for second place with David Edwards and Jim Thorpe. John Jacobs, Loren Roberts and Fuzzy Zoeller are tied for fifth at 5-under 67.
Roberts set a Champions Tour record Friday with his 33rd consecutive round of par or better.
Irwin broke a 15-month winless drought in January at the MasterCard Championship in Hawaii, and has more Champions Tour wins than any other player.
Kuznetsova, Hantuchova in Pac Life finals
INDIAN WELLS, Calif., March 16 (UPI) -- Second seed Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame a slow start to beat Sybille Bammer in Friday's semifinals at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Calif.
Kuznetsova -- who won the U.S. Open in 2004 and was the runner-up at last year's French Open -- beat the 33rd-seeded Austrian, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1.
The victory sets up a finals match between Kuznetsova and Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova, who beat 12th-seeded Li Na of China, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, Friday.
Hantuchova -- seeded 14th -- won at Indian Wells in 2002.
Equal pay to begin at French Open
PARIS, March 16 (UPI) -- Officials of the French Open Tennis Tournament Friday decided that men and women will receive the same winner's share.
Both the men's and women's champion will collect $1.33 million, starting this year.
The equal pay decision means the tournament's total purse will be $20 million, an increase of 7.23 percent from last year.
"Equal prize money at the four Grand Slams has now become a non-issue and I couldn't be happier," said former Fed Cup captain Billie Jean King on the WTA Tour's Web site. "The WTA Tour has kept this issue on the front burner. All WTA leaders and players in between the lines can stand tall knowing that our voice has been heard. This is a great day for all of us."
A similar move has been announced at Wimbledon.
Money totals will be disclosed before that Grand Slam tournament is played in July.
