Sports briefs

Last update: November 2, 2007 - 11:43 PM

golf

Verplank takes one-shot lead

Scott Verplank shot a second consecutive 6-under-par 66 Friday for a one-shot lead over Tag Ridings, Stephen Ames and Ryan Armour at the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Verplank made enough birdies on his first nine holes Friday on the Magnolia Course that he wasn't too bothered by closing with nine consecutive pars.

Verplank, who was at 12-under 132, already has won this year at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. He is 15th on the money list, played in the Presidents Cup, and has qualified for the four majors next year.

Ridings, on the other hand, needs a victory to keep his playing card. He also shot a 66 at Magnolia.

Ames ran off seven consecutive birdies on the Palm Course before a three-putt bogey at the end put him at 63. Armour shot a 64 at the Palm.

• Laura Davies shot a 7-under 65 at Shima, Japan, to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Mizuno Classic.

Davies had seven birdies in her bogey-free round.

American Reilley Rankin and Japan's Chie Arimura were tied for second. Defending champion Karrie Webb had a 73, and struggling Japanese star Ai Miyazato shot a 77.

• Justin Rose shot a 3-under 68 to take a four-shot lead over Padraig Harrington in the Volvo Masters at Sotogrande, Spain.

OLYMPICS

Chicago attempts to impress Rogge

Chicago, bidding to host the 2016 Olympics, held a luncheon in honor of International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who is in Chicago for the world boxing championships. Olympic gold medalists Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Edwin Moses and Nadia Comaneci attended the luncheon and Mayor Richard Daley spoke to Rogge about Chicago's attributes.

JURISPRUDENCE

Doctors sentenced in steroids case

Two doctors who doled out illegal steroids and human growth hormone prescriptions to perhaps thousands of people were sentenced, one to two years in prison and the other to a year's home confinement.

Ana Maria Santi and Victor Mariani, both of New York, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence, R.I., to charges they were paid to write medically unnecessary prescriptions for customers they had never met or examined. Santi was given two years in prison. Mariani got home confinement.

BOXING

Warren advances

Rau'shee Warren of the United States won the final nine points of the second round to defeat Azerbaijan's Samir Mammadov 26-13 in the flyweight semifinals at the World Boxing Championships in Chicago.

• Juan Manuel Marquez will try to defend his WBC superfeatherweight title tonight against Rocky Juarez in Tucson, Ariz.

AROUND THE HORN

Tennis: Rafael Nadal beat Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-4, 6-2 to reach a Paris Masters semifinal against Marcos Baghdatis, who beat Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-4. David Nalbandian and Richard Gasquet also won. ... Lindsay Davenport advanced to the Bell Challenge semifinals, beating France's Stephanie Foretz 6-4, 6-0 in Quebec City.

Figure skating: Finland's Laura Lepisto won the women's short program in Skate Canada, finishing with 59.18 points in Quebec City. American Emily Hughes was second at 58.72, and 17-year-old Japanese skater Mao Asada was third at 58.08.

FROM NEWS SERVICES

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