Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Friday 24 May 2019

Italy's Cesare Benedetti pedals to win the 12th stage of the Giro
d'Italia, tour of Italy cycling race, from Cuneo to Pinerolo, Thurs-
day, May 23, 2019.
Associated Press
Benedetti wins

12th stage; Polanc

takes Giro lead

Jordan Spieth and his caddie Mike Greller look over a putt on the ninth green during the first round PINEROLO, Italy (AP) — In the overall standings,
of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas,
Thursday, May 23, 2019. Cesare Benedetti won Polanc leads Primoz Roglic
Associated Press the 12th stage of the Giro by 4 minutes, 7 seconds.
d'Italia on Thursday for his Vincenzo Nibali, one of the
COLONIAL Spieth kick-started his avoided a second bogey first victory as a professional pre-race favorites, is fifth
Continued from Page 17 round by chipping in for with a chip-in on the par-3 while Jan Polanc took the overall, 5:51 behind.
But the former Texas Long- birdie on the par-3 13th, his 16th. overall leader's pink jersey "It was a team tactic that I
horn didn't necessarily fourth hole of the round. He "I didn't know I only hit three from UAE Emirates team- would go in the breakaway
have to be here, a week ended up with seven bird- fairways," said Finau, the mate Valerio Conti. so we could have a bet-
after tying for third at the ies in a span of 10 holes, the last of the nine top 20 play- Benedetti, an Italian with ter control over the race,"
PGA for his first top 20 this other highlight a 46-foot ers in the field at No. 16. "I the Bora team who has Polanc said. "It was also a
season. putt on No. 4. still felt like I could hit most been a support rider for his way to keep the pink jersey
"I didn't put it above or be- A double bogey at 18, with of the greens from wherev- entire career, was part of in the team."
low any other week," said a second shot into the wa- er position I was." an early breakaway then Mikel Landa and Miguel
Spieth, whose last victory ter left of the green, finished Sloan, a Canadian liv- accelerated from a select Angel Lopez attacked on
was the 2017 British Open. Spieth's front nine and was ing in Houston who hadn't group of riders in a sprint the first-category climb
"I know my game has been the only thing between him been to Colonial before finish. to Montoso and gained
progressing. I've been say- and the lead as he tries to this week, had a steady "I've worked a lot for the about 30 seconds on the
ing that for the last month keep climbing in the world round with three birdies others in the past but to- other overall favorites.
or six weeks or so. Results rankings. Spieth jumped on each side. He said his day I got my opportunity," Before the stage began,
just end up coming when I nine spots to 30th after the swing coach thought the Benedetti said. "I'm not sprinters Caleb Ewan and
actually start playing better PGA. cozy layout would fit the (usually) a winner." Elia Viviani withdrew from
golf. Simply put, that's just "I think the course fits me 32-year-old's game. He Benedetti required 3 hours, the race. Ewan won two
what I've been doing." well," said Spieth, who tied hasn't played on Sunday in 41 minutes to complete the stages, including the 11th
Defending champion Jus- for 29th in his hometown five straight tournaments, 158-kilometer (98-mile) leg leg a day earlier, while Vivi-
tin Rose, the highest-ranked tournament, the Byron missing the initial cut in the from Cuneo to Pinerolo, ani posted three second-
player in the field at No. 3, Nelson, two weeks ago. "It first four. which featured one major place finishes.
shot 74 with four bogeys on seems to have fit me well "That's the tendency ev- climb and another shorter Stage 13 on Friday is one
the back nine. whether I've had form com- ery year for me, get off to but steeper ascent just be- of the race's toughest, with
The other four players from ing in or not. I know which a good start, go into a lit- fore the finish. two category one climbs
the top 10 in the field also spots to play to. I don't try tle bit of a lull," said Sloan, Damiano Caruso crossed and one category ascent,
were over par: No. 7 Fran- and do too much." whose only victory was on second and Eddie Dunbar along with an uphill finish
cesco Molinari (1-over 71), Finau, who hasn't finished the Canadian tour in 2011. came third, each with the at the end of the 196-kilo-
eighth-ranked Bryson De- higher than 60th in three "So I'm pleased that I was same time as Benedetti. meter leg from Pinerolo to
Chambeau (72), No. 9 Xan- tournaments since tying for able to turn things around Polanc, a Slovenian who Ceresole Reale.
der Schauffele (76) and fifth at the Masters, had five heading into the last little was also in the breakaway, The Giro ends June 2 in
10th-ranked Rickie Fowler birdies over seven holes kick of the regular season." finished 25 seconds behind. Verona.q
(74). before closing with five Kevin Kisner, playing with
J.J. Henry, who played in straight pars. His best Colo- Spieth two years after edg-
college for Colonial neigh- nial finish was a tie for 19th ing him by a stroke to win
bor TCU, and two-time in his debut four years ago. Colonial, shot 72.
Colonial runner-up Jason After changing his putting Of the 12 players atop the
Dufner were among nine grip following a closing 79 leaderboard, 11 played in
at 67. Ryan Palmer had the at the PGA, Finau had four the morning. Conditions
only bogey-free round on birdie putts from 19 feet toughened later with tem-
his home course, finishing or longer while hitting just peratures reaching 90 in /arubatoday/
at 68 with seven others. three of 14 fairways. He steady 20 mph winds.q