Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Monday 1 april 2019

Kisner, Kuchar make it an All-American final at Match Play

By DOUG FERGUSON afternoon to reach the fi-
AP Golf Writer nal day, never led. He was
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Kevin never out of it, either, three
Kisner made it back to the times winning holes to tie
Dell Technologies Match the match.
Play final Sunday for the Kuchar reached the green
second straight year by in two on the 16th and
outlasting British Open missed his eagle putt, going
champion Francesco Moli- 1 up when the 27-year-old
nari to reach the champi- Dane missed his birdie putt
onship match against Matt from about 15 feet. Kuchar
Kuchar. birdied the next, only for
Kuchar made it an All- Bjerregaard to match him
American final for the sec- with a 10-foot birdie to send
ond straight year — and it to the 18th.
the ninth time since it be- Needing a birdie to have
gan in 1999 — by beating any chance, Bjerregaard
Lucas Bjerregaard of Den- went some 35 feet long
mark in 18 holes. and missed the putt.
Kisner is the fifth player in Kuchar lagged his 15-foot
the 21 years of Match Play birdie putt to the hole and
to get to the last round in Kevin Kisner watches his drive on the sixth hole during semifinal play against Francesco Molinari the match was conceded.
consecutive years. Bubba at the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship golf tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2019, in Kuchar headed to the final
Watson beat him last year Austin, Texas. for the second time, having
at Austin Country Club in a Associated Press won this World Golf Cham-
match that lasted only 12 and Kisner played their best seize control with anoth- putt that he couldn’t afford pionship in 2013 over Hunt-
holes. golf in the toughest condi- er poor wedge shot from to lag because Kisner had er Mahan. Kuchar already
“I can’t finish worse than tions, with a strong wind Molinari, this one from the a good look from just inside is the only two-time winner
second,” Kisner said. making the temperatures back collar at No. 14 some 15 feet. on the PGA Tour this sea-
He won his semifinal match feel like the upper 30s. 10 feet by the hole. But the “I bogeyed 12, 14 18 from son.
when Molinari three-putted Each won three holes Italian answered with a decent spots,” Molinari Kisner is the first player
from 25 feet above the hole through the par-3 sev- two-putt birdie on the par-5 said. “So it’s not something since group play began in
with a helping wind, missing enth, and Kisner took the 16th and a wedge to 3 feet really you’re allowed to 2015 to lose in the opening
his par attempt from 8 feet. first lead on the back nine for birdie on the 17th. do.” round and reach the final.
Molinari had been the only when Molinari’s pitch to Both found tough spots on The other semifinal was just Of the previous four players
player to not lose a match the green on the par-5 12th the 18th, Molinari in a bun- as tight. who made it to the cham-
this week, and none of didn’t check up and rolled ker and Kisner in a slight div- Bjerregaard, coming off an pionship match in consecu-
his five previous matches over the back and into the ot hole. Molinari went long emotional 1-up win over tive years, only Paul Casey
reached the 18th hole. He water. Kisner appeared to and left, leaving him a slick Tiger Woods on Saturday (2009-10) lost both times.q
Liverpool back on top after Tottenham self-destructs at end

Associated Press nodded in from 10 yards London rivals Arsenal and
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) (meters). Chelsea. “I am happy be-
— Liverpool returned to the It was a second half short cause the emotion and the
top of the Premier League of clear-cut chances but feeling we got today is go-
on Sunday with a 2-1 victo- Tottenham began to apply ing to help us,” Tottenham
ry over Tottenham gifted by more pressure on the Liver- manager Mauricio Pochet-
Toby Alderweireld’s 90th- pool defense and made its tino said. “Now we start a
minute own-goal for the breakthrough after 70 min- mini-league, (with) seven
third-placed London club. utes. games ahead.
Tottenham goalkeeper Harry Kane hit a perfect “We are in the top four, we
Hugo Lloris couldn’t hold ball forward from a quick need to keep our position,
a header from Liverpool free-kick to find Kieran Trip- it’s in our hands and with
winger Mohamed Salah, in- pier, the right back steered all the circumstances that
stead sending the ball onto the ball into Christian Erik- happen this season they
Alderweireld, who then di- sen, whose square ball was (the players) are more than
verted it back into his own Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, left, and Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino sent in from close range by heroes and we need to
celebrate after Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld scores an own
net. goal past his goalkeeper during the English Premier League Lucas Moura. keep the trust and the con-
Liverpool moved two points soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham, potential title fidence.”
clear of Manchester City, Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, March 31, 2019. contenders until February, Pochettino, in the stands
having played a game Associated Press should have put a huge serving a touchline ban,
more. erpool manager Juergen Tottenham. A tough task I dent in Liverpool’s hopes of had brought in Alderweire-
“I was not happy that Klopp said. would say.” ending a 29-year wait for ld as a third central de-
we conceded a goal of “After the goal we started Liverpool secured a 16th- the title but has not won a fender but it did not give
course, but we needed it playing again a little bit minute lead when Andrew league match now since the advantage Spurs want-
a little bit because first half more. We compete with Robertson’s cross from the mid-February. ed down the flanks through
we had fantastic chances, the best team in the world left was perfect for Rober- Tottenham is only ahead wing-backs Trippier and
scored a wonderful goal I would say, Man City, and to Firmino, who took up a of fourth-place Manches- Danny Rose, who more of-
... (and) second half we we play against one of the position between the Tot- ter United on goal differ- ten than not just made the
looked heavy-legged,” Liv- best teams in the world, tenham center backs and ence and a point ahead of backline a flat five. q