Georgia QB Stafford top NFL draft pick
NEW YORK, April 25 (UPI) -- The Detroit Lions made Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford the official top pick Saturday in the 2009 NFL Draft in New York.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but both Detroit Free Press and Detroit News said Stafford inked a six-year, $78 million contract on Friday night, becoming the ninth quarterback in the last 12 years to be the draft's No. 1 overall selection.
His $78 million deal is the richest in the history of the draft, topping the six-year, $72 million deal the Atlanta Falcons gave quarterback Matt Ryan, the No. 3 overall pick last year.
The 6-foot-3 inch, 237-pound Stafford, a Dallas native, was a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2008, when he passed for 3,459 yards and a school-record 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.
Stafford left Georgia with one year of college eligibility left.
Nadal, Ferrer in Barcelona tennis final
BARCELONA, Spain, April 25 (UPI) -- Rafael Nadal beat Nikolay Davydenko in the Barcelona Open semifinals Saturday and will meet fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in Sunday's final.
Nadal -- who beat Ferrer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 in last year's title match -- posted a 6-3, 6-2 victory over third-seeded Russian Davydenko Saturday. The fourth-seeded Ferrer had to rally from a set down to take a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) victory over Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.
Nadal, 22, will play for his fifth straight Barcelona title. He improved to 24-1 all-time in the tournament, losing only to fellow countryman Alex Corretja in the second round of in 2003.
Nadal will take a 24-match winning streak on clay into Sunday's final. He is 141-4 on the surface since 2005, which includes a title last week at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Nadal is a three-time ATP Tour winner this year with championships at the Australian Open and Indian Wells in addition to Monte Carlo.
Kelly leads PGA Zurich Classic by 3
NEW ORLEANS, April 25 (UPI) -- Jerry Kelly had a 3-under 69 Saturday to widen his lead to three shots after the third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Kelly completed 54 holes at 13-under 203. Steve Marino was in second place after posting a 4-under 68 Saturday.
Rod Pampling (68), Aaron Watkins (69), Charles Howell III (70), John Rollins (71) and first-round leader Charlie Wi (71) are tied for third at 9-under 207.
Kelly has his seventh 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. He has only won once when leading after three rounds -- at the 2002 Sony Open in Hawaii. Later that year he earned his only other PGA victory, at the Western Open.
Roberts and Wiebe co-lead senior Legends
SAVANNAH, Ga., April 25 (UPI) -- Loren Roberts and Mark Wiebe teamed for an 11-under 61 Saturday to take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the seniors Legends of Golf in Georgia.
Roberts and Wiebe completed 36 holes at 19-under 125. They lead John Cook and Joey Sindelar by a stroke. Cook and Sindelar combined for a 63 Saturday.
Tom Lehman and Bernhard Langer, who shared the first-round lead with John Jacobs and Fuzzy Zoeller, are tied for third with Mark O'Meara and Nick Price at 17-under 127.
