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A22 sports
Monday 21 october 2019

Justin Thomas of the United States kisses his trophy after winning
the CJ Cup PGA golf tournament at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island,
South Korea, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.
Associated Press
Justin Thomas wins

11th PGA Tour event, Denny Hamlin (11) celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway
in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.
Associated Press
2nd in South Korea Hamlin wins chaotic NASCAR cut-off race

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea able up and downs to kind Continued from Page 18 five at Kansas twice in the past couple
(AP) — Justin Thomas won of keep me from getting all years, but the trip to victory lane was the
his 11th PGA Tour event the momentum." Hamlin won the race. Elliott felt almost as first for his Joe Gibbs Racing team since
and his second in South Thomas finished with a 72- if he did. 2012.
Korea in three years with a hole total of 20-under 268 "You have to stay fighting in these things, "This was a tough track for us. We didn't run
final-round 5-under 67 and at Nine Bridges. "Just a cou- especially with the late-race restarts," he very good here in the spring," said his crew
a two-stroke victory over ple holes that were letting said. "Just excited we get to fight another chief, Chris Gabehart. "We got a few key
South Korean-born New me down with the driver on race. Back up against the wall, to come adjustments that turned us into a domi-
Zealander Danny Lee. the back nine," Lee said. "A out here and battle for the win, that's what nant car."
Thomas and Lee made it couple tee shots that you you have to do when you're in the position The frenzied push to the finish Sunday be-
mostly a two-man show cannot hit it in that bun- we were in." gan when Blaney scraped the wall with 14
Sunday at the CJ Cup at kers on the left and I did, In a bit of irony, it was Keselowski who to go, causing his tire to go down and a
Nine Bridges. They entered so struggling to make par helped bring out the caution in the first caution flag to fly. Elliott was three points
the final round tied and from there when Justin had overtime when he got into Daniel Suarez behind Keselowski at that point, but the
stayed that way through a couple birdie looks." On and triggered a wreck that collected savior of Hendrick Motorsports' playoff
the front nine. the eagle putt on 18, Lee teammate Joey Logano. The field was hopes made a big move on the restart
Thomas birdied the 14th to said: "Pretty close. I wasn't nearing the start-finish line but the caution to climb to fourth place, and that put the
take one-stroke lead, then going to leave that short. light came on before the leader took the pressure right back on Keselowski to make
went up by two when Lee It looked so good for so white flag. up ground.
bogeyed the 15th after long. Had a little too much If Hamlin had crossed a split-second quick- Elliott was still in good shape until anoth-
missing a 10-foot par putt speed to go in, but I gave it er, the race would have been over and er caution flew, jumbling the front of the
and Thomas made a two- a really good run." Lee has Keselowski safe. pack and giving Keselowski a chance. He
footer for par. After going had to deal with some fam- "I pushed as hard as I knew how and didn't made a quick stop and picked up three
from greenside bunker to ily issues on the weekend — quite do good enough on the last restart spots on pit road, putting Elliott back in
bunker on the 16th, Lee following the third round he and that was it," Keselowski said. "We a situation where it appeared he would
bogeyed again and fell said his second child was clawed as hard as we could and there need a victory to advance.
three behind. But Thomas born prematurely. Lee's were times it looked like we were going "I was under the impression," he said.
bogeyed the 17th after wife Yoomi was scheduled to be fine and times it didn't. In the end it The entire field got through the first play-
his 12-footer for par lipped to deliver their child closer didn't work out." off restart cleanly, but Keselowski ran out
out, reducing the deficit to to the Christmas holidays. Kyle Busch ultimately finished third, fol- of room deep in the pack and nudged
two strokes. The baby is currently in an lowed by Kurt Busch and William Byron. Suarez, sending him into the wall. Logano
On Saturday, Thomas had incubator. Lee told the But the key was Keselowski, who dropped also was heavily damaged in the wreck,
a three-stroke lead head- PGA Tour website that he from 13th to 19th on the final restart and throwing his own playoff hopes into ques-
ing into the 18th ahead of planned to keep the mat- out of the next round of the playoffs. tion as another OT approached.
a three-shot swing when ter private until after the He ended up three points — equal to Hamlin got a good jump on the restart,
Thomas bogeyed and Lee event but responded to a three positions on the track — below the and Elliott dived low and got in line. He
made a long eagle putt. question about whether cutoff line. immediately moved forward into second
On Sunday, there were no he and his wife had plans Byron was the next driver eliminated de- place while Keselowski began hemorrhag-
such late miracles for Lee: to celebrate should he spite a strong run at Kansas, where he ing positions, and the change that was
Thomas and Lee both bird- win the event. Hideki Mat- would have needed a win to advance. made in the final two laps was enough to
ied the 18th, with Lee lip- suyama (65), last year's Alex Bowman and home-state hero Clint send Elliott into the next round.
ping out on his eagle putt runner-up Gary Woodland Bowyer also were eliminated. "If you ever get to Homestead, you're go-
to finish with a 69. (66) and Australian Cam- "I did think we were OK," Keselowski said, ing to have to fight for a win," he said.
"It was a very, very tough eron Smith (69) finished tied "but obviously we weren't." "Proud of the effort. Learned a lot. To be
day," Thomas said. "Danny for third, five behind Thom- The win was the fifth this season for Ham- able to come out here and, like I said, in
made it extremely diffi- as. Jordan Spieth closed lin, who already was in good shape to our minds have to win, come and fight for
cult. He really made a lot with a 71 and was tied with advance but picked up valuable playoff one, to finish second, I think is step in the
of putts, a lot of unbeliev- four others at 12-under.q points with the win. He'd finished in the top right direction for us."q