Bubba Watson takes lead in Hope Classic
LA QUINTA, Calif., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Bubba Watson shot a 10-under 62 in sloppy conditions Friday and took a two-shot lead after 36 holes at the Bob Hope Classic in La Quinta, Calif.
Tournament officials took unprecedented steps to get in the second round over the four saturated courses where the five-day event is being played.
No golf could be played Thursday because of heavy rains and tee times were moved back Friday to make the courses barely playable.
The almost 400 amateurs who annually take part in the event were not allowed to play Friday and the professionals were sent off in twosomes off both tees of the four layouts -- the PGA West Palmer Course, PGA West Nicklaus Course, La Quinta Country Club and SilverRock Resort.
Water was standing on some of the greens and in many of the bunkers but play proceeded and tournament officials say they hope the event can be played to a full 90 holes and finish Monday.
Watson drove the par-4 fifth green at the SilverRock course and made his putt for an eagle while equaling the low round of the tournament. Birdies on four of the final six holes would have given the long-hitting left-hander a 59 but he bogeyed the par-3 14th and had to settle for a 36-hole total of 16-under 128.
Rookie Alex Prugh was alone in second at 130 following a 66 at the Palmer course. Joe Ogilvie, Martin Flores, Chad Collins and first-round leader Shane Bertsch were tied for third at 131.
Vonn victorious again in super-G
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- American Lindsey Vonn won her second consecutive super-giant slalom, taking Friday's race in Italy by a healthy two-thirds of a second.
Vonn covered the course at Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, in 1 minute, 21.74 seconds, easily ahead of runner-up Swiss Fabienne Suter (1:22.41) and third-place Swede Anja Paerson (1:22.48).
The victory came on the heels of a super-G win 12 days ago and gave Vonn four podium appearances in four super-Gs this season. She easily leads the season-long super-G standings by 170 points over Suter.
Friday's results also boosted Vonn, the two-time defending World Cup champion, into the overall standings lead by 56 points over German Maria Riesch.
"I'm really happy," Vonn said. "It couldn't be going any better for me right now in the speed disciplines. It's nice to have the confidence back and have a more positive race after the last week of technical races."
The women skiers head to St. Moritz, Switzerland, next week for the final set of races before the 2010 Winter Olympics open Feb. 12 in Canada.
Halak outduels Brodeur in Montreal win
NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Jaroslav Halak gave up an early goal Friday and then got the best of Martin Brodeur in leading Montreal to a 3-1 victory over New Jersey.
Halak, who will be on the roster for Slovakia at next month's Olympics, made 14 of his 31 saves in the third period.
Zach Parise beat Halak with a backhander 5:16 into the game, but Benoit Pouliot tied it late in the opening period.
The game-winning goal came from Mathieu Darche, who scored for the first time this season and for just the eighth time in his career. Darche was recalled from Hamilton of the American Hockey League this week and was playing only his second contest of the campaign.
Mike Cammalleri finished the scoring midway through the third with his 24th of the year. The Canadiens halted a three-game losing streak.
Brodeur, who produced his 108th career shutout two nights earlier, made 21 saves in his 28th consecutive start.
Golfer Jim Thorpe convicted of tax evasion
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Professional golfer Jim Thorpe was sentenced to one year in prison Friday for income tax evasion.
Thorpe, 60, a 13-time winner on the Champions Tour, pleaded guilty last September to two counts of failing to pay income taxes. He has agreed to pay all taxes, interest and penalties owed.
"I've definitely made some mistakes," he admitted. "It was my fault."
Friday's sentencing in U.S. District Court in Orlando came after federal prosecutors said Thorpe, one of the first blacks ever to compete on the PGA Tour, owed the Internal Revenue Service more than $2 million during a three-year period.
The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported U.S. Magistrate Judge Karla R. Spaulding heard testimony about Thorpe helping others and volunteering for several charitable events, but Spaulding limited his sentence to one year instead of two with his prior actions playing a role.
