The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- McDowell holds off Bradley to win World Challenge
- Allen faces ban as Fu 'cheat' row goes on
- Nabil’s title hopes up in smoke after crash with Afiq
| McDowell holds off Bradley to win World Challenge Posted: 02 Dec 2012 05:35 PM PST THOUSAND OAKS, California: Graeme McDowell continued his love affair with California by winning for the first time in two years when he held off playing partner Keegan Bradley to clinch the World Challenge by three shots on Sunday. The Northern Irishman, who had endured a title drought since his playoff victory here over tournament host Tiger Woods in 2010, ended his 2012 campaign on a triumphant note as he closed with a four-under-par 68 to post a 17-under total of 271. Though McDowell survived a few anxious moments over the closing stretch at a rain-soaked Sherwood Country Club, he rebounded from a bogey at the 13th with birdies at the 16th and the last to keep Bradley at bay. Bradley finished second after signing off with a 69. American Bo Van Pelt (70) was alone in third at 10 under, a stroke better than compatriots Rickie Fowler (69), Jim Furyk (70) and five-times champion Woods 71. |
| Allen faces ban as Fu 'cheat' row goes on Posted: 02 Dec 2012 04:41 PM PST YORK, United Kingdom: Northern Irishman Mark Allen could be banned from snooker for three months after his "cheating" row with Hong Kong star Marco Fu overshadowed the UK Championships on Sunday. Both men were due to face each other in the first round later in the day, but the 26-year-old Allen, the world number eight, is in trouble after repeating allegations he first made during the world championships in Sheffield in April. Following his first-round defeat to China's Cao Yupeng at the world event, Allen accused his conqueror of playing a banned push shot. He also named Fu as a player he believed to have broken the rules in the past. Fu, 34, has denied all allegations of cheating. A World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association spokesman said of Allen's comments made on November 28: "His comments have been looked at and he has been asked to explain what he said." Allen was handed a six-month suspended sentence for his remarks about Cao. "It was unfair of me to label all Chinese players as cheats but dishonesty in snooker is something that needs to be stamped out," Allen told the BBC last week. "I'd never said anything about Marco as a person. Marco as a person is one of the nicest people you'd ever meet. "Obviously people make mistakes on the table. But aside from that, Marco is a great snooker player." Cao on Sunday became the third Chinese player to make a first-round exit from the UK Championship. Cao lost 6-1 to Mark Davis and joins Liang Wenbo and former UK champion Ding Junhui as first-round losers from China. World number one Judd Trump saw his hopes of defending the title shattered by a first-round exit at the hands of Mark Joyce, losing 6-5. - AFP |
| Nabil’s title hopes up in smoke after crash with Afiq Posted: 02 Dec 2012 05:39 PM PST PETALING JAYA: Nabil Jeffri (pic) lost the chance to win the JK Racing Asia Series title in the most unfortunate circumstances in the last race of the season at the Buddh International Circuit in India yesterday. The 19-year-old, driving for Eurointernational team, was just two laps away from savouring a glorious moment for Malaysian motorsports when his car was taken out of the race by fellow countryman and Meritus GP driver Afiq Ikhwan. Nabil was lying in second place and would have become only the second Malaysian after Jazeman Jaafar to win the prestigious series title if not for incident on lap eight of Race 16. Both Malaysians could not continue the race and South African rookie Aston Hare was left unchallenged to cruise home for the chequered flag and the overall title. It was a highly successful weekend for Hare, who is Nabil's team-mate, as he won three out of the four races to finish on top with a tally of 236 points. Nabil had to settle for second spot with 223 points. Afiq was third with a 174 total. It was a big disappointment for Nabil after fighting hard in yesterday's last two races. He battled his way from 10th on the starting grid to finish third in Race 15 but was awarded the second placing points. India's Akhil Khushlani, who finished second, was a guest driver and not entitled to championship points. For Race 16, Nabil fought superbly from seventh on the starting grid to second to keep his title hopes alive until he was bumped out. Nabil's father, Jeffri Al-Jan, who was in New Delhi, was livid over the incident that ruined his son's chances of following in the footsteps of Jazeman, who emerged overall champion in 2007. "This is not what Nabil wanted. He was just two laps away from taking the title. He was in second place and the points earned would be more than enough to remain on top in the overall standings. "Afiq came and hit Nabil on the last corner and it's not the first time this happened. "I believe the stewards may take action against Afiq and the team," said Jeffri. Nabil was frustrated with the end result. "I gave my best and it was my best drive. I can't tolerate such an act happening to me," said Nabil. |
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