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UPI NewsTrack Sports

Pat Summitt awarded Medal of Freedom

WASHINGTON, April 19 (UPI) -- President Obama Thursday announced University of Tennessee's women's basketball coach emeritus Patricia Summitt as a recipient of the Medal of Freedom.

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"Coach Summitt is an inspiration -- both as the all-time winningest NCAA coach, and as someone who is willing to speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer's," Obama said in a White House release.

"Pat's gift has always been her ability to push those around her to new heights, and over the last 38 years her unique approach has resulted in both unparalleled success on the court and unrivaled loyalty from those who know her and those whose lives she has touched. Pat's coaching career may be over, but I'm confident that her work is far from finished. I look forward to awarding her this honor," Obama said.

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Summitt took Tennessee to more Final Four appearances than any other coach, has the second-best record of NCAA Championships in basketball and was named Naismith Women's Collegiate Coach of the Century.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor, presented to those who have made "especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," the release said.


Baldwin in front at golf's China Open

TIANJIN, China, April 19 (UPI) -- Matthew Baldwin shot a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 Thursday in taking the first-round lead at the European Tour's Volvo China Open.

All seven of Baldwin's birdies came on par 4s. Six golfers are right behind at 6-under and seven more are at 5-under 67. Forty-three players are within four strokes of Baldwin.

Scorers were generally higher in the afternoon when winds picked up. Among the leaders, only Jbe Kruger had a later start Thursday.

Baldwin opened with a birdie and was 3-under after seven holes. He recorded three consecutive birdies over Nos. 9-11 and moved into the lead by himself with a birdie at the 489-yard, par 4 17th.

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The group at 6-under includes Joost Luiten, who overcame a double bogey at the fourth hole and Gary Boyd, who eagled the 575-yard, par-5 12th but also had a bogey.

Also in second are Kruger and Scott Strange, who each were bogey-free, and Fredrik Andersson Hed and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, who had one bogey against seven birdies on the day.

China's Guan Tian-Lang, at 13 years and 177 days old, became the youngest player to participate in a European Tour event. He shot 5-over 77, finishing with nine consecutive pars. Guan won the world junior championship last year by 11 strokes.


MLS suspends New York's Marquez

NEW YORK, April 19 (UPI) -- New York's Rafa Marquez has been suspended for three games for violent play that injured San Jose's Shea Salinas, MLS officials said Thursday.

Marquez will miss games against D.C. United, the New England Revolution and Los Angeles Galaxy. He would be eligible to return to the Red Bull lineup May 9 when New York plays Houston.

Major League Soccer's Disciplinary Committee said Marquez was guilty of "violent conduct that demonstrated blatant disregard for the safety of his opponent."

Marquez, late in the first half of last Saturday's game, tackled Salinas, jumped on him and kicked him. Salinas suffered a broken clavicle and could be out of the lineup for eight weeks.

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MLS officials also said San Jose's Marvin Chavez would be suspended for Saturday's game against Real Salt Lake for a tackle in the same game that endangered the safety of an opposing player.

Both Marquez and Chavez were also fined an undisclosed amount.


Bader leads on LPGA Tour

HONOLULU, April 19 (UPI) -- Beth Bader suffered a bogey on the final hole but still shot a 4-under 68 Wednesday that put her in front after one round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship.

High winds swept across the Ko Olina Golf Club course and only 18 players could break par.

Bader had a one-shot lead over Jiyai Shin, Brittany Lang, Angela Stanford and world No. 1 Yani Tseng.

Tseng has won three times on the LPGA Tour this year, but missed a chance at victory at the season's first major event -- the Kraft Nabisco.

Brittany Lincicome, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen, Inbee Park and Sun Young Yoo were all at 70 in a tie for sixth.

I.K. Kim, who missed a 1-foot putt on the final green that would have given her the Kraft Nabisco title, was among those who shot 71 Wednesday.

Jessica Korda, who became the tour's youngest winner when she captured the Australian Open in February, shot a 72. Michelle Wie struggled to a 78.

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