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A14 sports
Monday 5 SepteMber 2022
Gaby Lopez birdies final 3 holes for 63 to win Dana Open

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) — Masson was one shot be-
Gaby Lopez rallied from hind Li at the start and was
four shots behind Sunday quickly forgotten when she
and closed with three opened with a double bo-
straight birdies for a 8-un- gey and followed that with
der 63 and a one-shot vic- a bogey to fall four behind.
tory in the Dana Open. In the end, Masson was the
Lopez finished her big run last one with a chance,
with a 12-foot birdie putt on though she would have
the par-5 18th at Highland needed an eagle-eagle
Meadow, setting off a se- finish on the two closing par
ries of fist pumps, knowing 5s.
it would keep her one shot She birdied them both for a
ahead of Megan Khang. 68 to finish alone in third.
All that was left for the For Lopez, it was a matter
28-year-old Mexican was of not trying to think too
to see if anyone could much about every shot, ev-
catch her. ery result, and put her in a
No one came particularly comfortable frame of mind
close, and Lopez had her on a wild day in which she
third career LPGA Tour vic- had 10 players ahead of
tory, and her first since the her at the start.
Tournament of Champions “This is going to sound cra-
to start the 2020 season. Gaby Lopez, of Mexico, celebrates her birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the zy, but today felt more like
“I knew I had to make it be- Dana Classic LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, at Highland Meadows Golf Club in a Friday round,” Lopez said.
cause Megan was going Sylvania, Ohio. Associated Press “Having that quiet is what
to make hers,” Lopez said. we’re working on, and it
“I practice exactly for this a 5-foot par putt.Li birdied that was definitely good,” group, along with Caroline has paid off.”
moment. We got the job the 18th hole for a 70 and Li said. “There is lots of les- Masson of Germany. In the She was two shots behind
done.” tied for fourth. She already sons to be learned, but to- end, none was really a fac- and missed 6-foot birdie
Khang, who shot 29 on the has her LPGA Tour card for day I hit it good and I just tor. chances on the ninth and
front on a rain-softened next season through the couldn’t get a lot of the Thompson has gone more 11th and never lost focus
course, closed with a 64. Epson Tour. Li tied for ninth putts to fall honestly.” than three years without on what she was trying to
Lucy Li, the 19-year-old in Canada last week to get The start of the final round winning and she didn’t do.
Californian who started the into the Dana Open, and had a feel of a battle of make a birdie until the fi- “Doubts come into your
final round with a one-shot now she is eligible to play prodigies — Lexi Thompson nal hole. She closed with a mind,” Lopez said. “But my
lead, struggled to make the LPGA event in Cincin- qualified for the U.S. Wom- 73 and tied for 16th, seven caddie said, ‘We jus keep
birdies. Her hopes effec- nati next week. en’s Open in 2007 when shots behind. doing what we’re doing.
tively ended when she hit “Yesterday I was a little she was 12, and then Li Li had one birdie and 14 It’s definitely working, and
into a fairway bunker on the nervous on the first couple broke her record in 2014 by pars as Lopez and Khang we’re going to commit to
16th hole, played well short of holes. Today didn’t re- qualifying at 11. took over at Highland that the last hole and see
of the green and missed ally feel nervous at all, so They were in the final Meadow. what happens.’q

Parker helps Sky beat Sun 76-72, take

2-1 series lead

finals. The Sky lead the best- scoreless span until Court- er made two free throws 7
of-five series 2-1. “Down ney Williams hit a jumper 40 seconds later.
the stretch we were able seconds later. Bonner then missed a 3 and
to play (to our strengths),” “It was 66-64 forever,” Con- Connecticut was done.
said Parker, who tied Tami- necticut coach Curt Miller She finished with 18 points
ka Catchings for most dou- said. “I wondered if one to lead the Sun, who had
ble-doubles in the playoffs team would have an offen- 17 turnovers.
with 27. “I think the biggest sive run. It was to the point “We have to play on on
thing is sometimes in years where if a team could put what we build on through-
past, we would play great back to back baskets to- out the season,” Chicago
Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker, center, drives between defense and give up the gether, they would have all coach James Wade said.
Connecticut Sun guard Natisha Hiedeman, left, and Jonquel offensive board. Tonight sorts of momentum. ... We “Playing together through-
Jones, right, during Game 3 of a WNBA basketball semifinal we were able to finish the just couldn’t put together out adversity, we did a
playoff series, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, in Uncasville, Conn. play.” Copper’s 3-pointer that offensive run when we good job of it. We didn’t
Associated Press
with 6:14 left gave Chicago needed it.” haven’t many lulls. we
By DOUG FEINBERG returning to the WNBA Fi- a 66-64 lead. Then offense Chicago scored the next were up for the challenge
AP Basketball Writer nals for a second straight was hard to come by: Nei- four points with two free and came out victorious.”
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — year. ther team scored for nearly throws by Copper and a Connecticut led 23-21 after
With the game in the bal- Parker had 16 points and 11 4 minutes until Emma Mees- layup by Meesseman that one quarter when Bonner
ance, Candace Parker and rebounds, Kahleah Copper seman hit a jumper in the made it 72-66 with under banked in a 3-pointer from
the Chicago Sky turned up added 15 points and the corner to extend the lead a minute left. Connecticut about 30 feet just before
their defense and came Sky beat the Connecticut to four with 2:26 left. got back within two with the buzzer. Connecticut
away with a gritty win to Sun 76-72 Sunday in Game Connecticut missed eight 22 seconds left on two free was 8 for 9 from the foul line
move within one victory of 3 of the WNBA playoff semi- shots in a row over that throws by Bonner, but Park- in the period.q