Page 21 - ATD 05 DEC,2015

SPORTS A21
AP: Brandt Jobe
wins Champions
Tour Q-school AP Pro Football Writer
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP)
— Brandt Jobe won the
Champions Tour qualifying
tournament Friday to earn
one of five fully exempt
spots next year, closing
with a 2-under 69 for a one-
stroke victory.
Jobe, a six-time winner on
the Japan Golf Tour, had
an 18-under 266 total on
TPC Scottsdale’s Champi-
ons Course.
“I actually played pret-
ty good today, but I just
didn’t make many putts,”
Jobe said. “I thought I was
still in pretty good shape
at the turn, but made bo-
gey at No. 10 from the
middle of the fairway with
a 5-iron in my hand for my
second shot. Luckily, I re-
grouped and hit quality
shots coming in. I did just
a good enough job today
and now I’m really looking
forward to next year. It’s
be awhile since I’ve been
able to plan a schedule.”
Tom Byrum, Willie Wood
and Jose Coceres tied for
second, and Mike Grob
was another stroke back to
take the last fully exempt
spot.
The next seven players
— John Riegger, Gibby
Gilbert III, Jean-Francois
Remesy, Stan Utley, 1996
U.S. Open champion Steve
Jones, Chien Soon Lu and
Miguel Angel Martin — are
conditionally exempt. The
rest of top 30 finishers and
ties are eligible to compete
for spots in open qualifiers.
Byrum shot a 63.
“I just went out today and
tried to make as many
birdies as I could,” Byrum
said. “I got it going and
had some good swing
thoughts today. I had putt-
ed well all week, so I knew
if I could give myself some
better scoring opportuni-
ties on the greens, I’d have
a chance. It was nice to
put this kind of a round to-
gether.”
Grob made a key birdie at
the 17th, getting up-and-
down from underneath a
tree left of the green. On
his knees to hit his third shot, cards, and Nos. 21-45 and
Grob chipped within 3 feet
of the hole and made the
putt to move in front of
Riegger. q
Saturday 5 December 2015
NFL Preview: Panthers take winning run to Big Easy
BARRY WILNER division with a victory. New gressive football, very physi- anything that is special. It
Orleans has dropped three cal football. They (defense) is just guys finding a way to
It’s difficult to remember in a row and can’t stop are the main reason why win football games.”
the last time the Carolina anyone. they are 11-0,” Saints tight Perhaps the feature match
Panthers lost an NFL regu- The way these teams have end Benjamin Watson says. of Week 13 is Seattle at
lar-season game. played lately, their game “Their defensive line does a Minnesota. The Seahawks
It wasn’t this season. They looks like a mismatch. But good job of creating pres- finally have a winning re-
are the lone unbeaten the division rivals often play sure, they move around a cord and think they can
team after New England one another close, as they lot. Their linebackers wreak stage a surge similar to last
went down at Denver last did in Week 3, when the havoc.” season’s, which landed
weekend. The Panthers, at Saints had a chance to win That havoc has translated them in the Super Bowl.
11-0, have a realistic shot until Panthers cornerback to the offense, too. Cam Seattle’s offense has be-
gun to crank up with Thom-
Washington Redskins’ Kirk Cousins, right, fumbles the ball as he is hit by Carolina Panthers’ Bene’ as Rawls at running back
Benwikere, left, in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers recov- instead of the injured Mar-
ered the ball. As the lone remaining unbeaten team, the Carolina Panthers have made believers shawn Lynch, and Doug
across the NFL. One major reason for their success as they head to New Orleans is their skill at Baldwin emerging as a No.
protecting and taking away the football. 1 receiver. But tight end
Jimmy Graham is done
(AP Photo/Mike McCarn) after hurting his right knee
in last week’s victory over
at repeating the Patriots’ Josh Norman’s leaping, Newton running and throw- Pittsburgh, when Russell Wil-
achievement of 2007, win- twisting interception in the ing, Greg Olsen catching, son threw for a career-best
ning all 16 regular-season end zone late in the fourth Jonathan Stewart rushing five touchdowns.
outings. When they visit quarter preserved Caro- — it’s been a potent com- “We’re not going to
the New Orleans Saints on lina’s 27-22 triumph. bination lately. change,” coach Pete Car-
Sunday — where their 15- The Panthers are plus-16 in “It’s just guys are making roll said of losing Graham.
game winning string began turnover margin and have plays when their numbers “We didn’t really change
last season — the Panthers 28 take-aways. are called,” Newton says. when Jimmy got here. We
can clinch the NFC South “They’re playing very ag- “There is no magic dust or just wanted to get the foot-
ball there.” Minnesota is
for real, rebounding from
a home loss to Green Bay
with a solid win at Atlan-
ta. Adrian Peterson once
more is the league’s best
runner, and the defense is
formidable. New England
remains formidable de-
spite its injury woes, and a
home victory against the
reeling Philadelphia Eagles,
combined with a New York
Jets loss, finishes off the
AFC East race. Of most in-
terest here could be who
Tom Brady targets with his
throws: Danny Amendola
could be back, but tight
end Rob Gronkowski is like-
ly to miss the game with a
bruised knee. q
Simin Feng leads LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. said. “It feels great to be in which has really helped kapan were tied for fifth at
(AP) — China’s Simin Feng the lead but there’s still two me here. I’ve been able to 8 under. The 18-year-old Su-
eagled the par-5 18th hole more days to go and many save some shots and make kapan also eagled the final
Friday to take a two-stroke more holes to come so I just some birdies on par 5s.” hole on the Jones Course
lead after the third round have to keep going.” Cydney Clanton was sec- for a 67. Na had a 69, also
of the LPGA Tour Qualifying Feng played on season at ond after a 69 on the Jones on the Jones Course.
Tournament. The 20-year- Vanderbilt before turning Course. “To get out to a “Everything was working re-
old Feng shot a 3-under professional last year. She good start is always nice,” ally well today,” Sukapan
69 on LPGA International’s tied for sixth in the event Clanton said. “The week- said. “I made some long
Jones Course to reach last season to earn an end is just a grind. You just putts and some par saves
12-under 204. LPGA Tour card. have to shoot low numbers. and my approach shots
The top 20 finishers Sun- “I kind of tried to tweak You have to just keep go- were good too.”
day will earn full LPGA Tour my practice a little bit be- ing.” South Korea’s Julie Cheyenne Woods, Tiger
fore this tournament,” Feng Yang was another stroke Woods’ niece, had a 72 on
ties will receive conditional said. “I decided to focus on back after a 72 on the Hills the Jones Course to drop
status. “It’s a great feeling my wedge game and the Course. Grace Na and from a tie for ninth into a tie
to play good early,” Feng scoring part of the game, Thailand’s Budsabakorn Su- for 16th at 4 under.q