Hamilton bests Vettel in U.S. Grand Prix
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Lewis Hamilton passed Formula One points leader Sebastian Vettel on the 42nd lap Sunday and held on for his second United States Grand Prix title.
Hamilton finished 0.6 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Vettel in the inaugural race on the new Circuit of the Americas road course at Austin, Texas.
Hamilton -- who last won the USGP in 2007 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- logged his fourth win of the season and the 21st of his F1 career.
Fernando Alonso claimed third place, falling 13 points behind two-time defending champion Vettel heading into next week's season-ending Brazil Grand Prix.
Choi hangs on to win Group Titleholders
NAPLES, Fla., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Third-round leader Na Yeon Choi fired a 2-under-par 70 Sunday to retain her advantage and post a two-stroke win at the season-ending Group Titleholders event.
Choi ended at 14-under 274 for her second career LPGA Tour win following her triumph at this year's U.S. Women's Open.
She recorded a pair of birdies on the back nine to secure the victory.
First-round co-leader So Yeon Ryu was tied with Choi on the 14th hole but then bogeyed the next and ended up carding a 70 as well that left her in second place at minus-12.
Brittany Lincicome (70) nailed down sole possession of third place also at 11-under. Karrie Webb (69) claimed fourth one shot further back.
Ai Miyazato began the day one shot off the lead but stumbled to a 74 to end up in fifth at 9-under.
Czech Republic claims 2012 Davis Cup title
PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Radek Stepanek's singles victory over Nicolas Almagro Sunday lifted the Czech Republic to a 3-2 defeat of Spain and the championship of the 2012 Davis Cup.
Stepanek outlasted the 11th-ranked Almagro 6-4, 7-6 (7-0), 3-6, 6-3 in the fifth and deciding match of the international tournament, giving the Czech Republic its first Davis Cup win since 1980, when the country was known as Czechoslovakia.
Stepanek's victory ignited a wild celebration at Prague's O2 Arena, which hosted the 100th Davis Cup final.
"I've been dreaming of this my whole life," Stepanek said. "We've written history today here in our country."
His victory came after Spain's David Ferrer downed Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in Sunday's first reverse singles match to force the deciding match.
Tennessee fires football Coach Dooley
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- University of Tennessee head football Coach Derek Dooley has been fired effective immediately, school officials announced Sunday.
Dooley, in his third season with the team, was let go following the Volunteers' 41-18 loss to Vanderbilt Saturday. Tennessee fell to 4-7 overall and 0-7 in the Southeastern Conference.
The Vols went 15-21 and failed to post a winning season during Dooley's tenure.
"Derek and I met early this morning, and I informed him that I believed a change in leadership, despite the positive contributions he has made to the overall health of the program, was in the best long-term interests of Tennessee football," Athletic Director Dave Hart said in a statement.
Dooley is the son of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley.
He took over at Tennessee in 2009 following the departure of Lane Kiffin.
"I am sorry we could not generate enough wins to create hope for a brighter future," he said.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney will take over for next week's season finale against Kentucky, which is also 0-7 in the SEC.
