GOLF

SORENSTAM CRUISES TO 60TH CAREER VICTORY

For Annika Sorenstam, the 60th career win was one of her easiest. Sorenstam cruised to a 10-stroke triumph in the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship yesterday, shooting a bogey-free 67.

Sorenstam finished with a 23-under 265, matching the biggest 72-hole win of her career. The 34-year-old Swede tied Patty Berg for third place on the LPGA Tour’s career victory list and can now take aim at the only two players to win more – Kathy Whitworth (88) and Mickey Wright (82). Sorenstam has won six of her last seven tournaments to give her 37 victories since the start of 2001. Cristie Kerr finished 11 strokes behind, while only three other players came as close as 13.

PURDY NOTCHES FIRST PGA WIN AT BYRON NELSON

Ted Purdy had a birdie putt on every hole and closed with a 5-under 65 to win the Byron Nelson Championship yesterday for his first PGA Tour victory. Purdy, ranked no. 173 in the world, played methodical golf for a one-shot victory over 22-year-old rookie Sean O’Hair.

Purdy finished at 15-under 265,and his 65 matched the lowest final round by a winner since the tournament moved to the TPC at Las Colinas in 1986.Vijay Singh finished with an ace on the 195-yard 17th hole and a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 65 to tie for third. Singh needed to finish alone in third to replace Tiger Woods at no. 1 in the world. Bob Tway (67) and Doug Barron (69) also tied for third.

BASEBALL

BAGWELL TO UNDERGO SHOULDER SURGERY

Jeff Bagwell will have surgery on his arthritic right shoulder early next month in hopes of prolonging his career that has been derailed by pain. The Houston Astros’ first baseman has been out since May 3. Bagwell, who turns 37 this month, was placed on the disabled list Tuesday for the first time in seven seasons, because of the degenerative shoulder condition that will require surgery, the team said before last night’s game. The rehabilitation is expected to last three months.

“This is a last chance effort to salvage his playing career,” said team doctor David Lintner.

TENNIS

MAURESMO WINS SECOND STRAIGHT ITALIAN OPEN

Amelie Mauresmo won her second straight Italian Open title with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over eighth-seeded Patty Schnyder yesterday in a tuneup for next week’s French Open. Though the Frenchwoman has reached the Italian Open final five consecutive times, she has never advanced past the quarterfinals at the French. Mauresmo improved to 25-6 this season and won her 17th career title.

CYCLING

ZABRISKIE RACES TO EIGHTH-STAGE WIN AT GIRO D’ITALIA

American David Zabriskie dominated an individual time trial in the Tuscan hills yesterday to win the eighth stage of the Giro d’Italia, while Italy’s Danilo Di Luca retained the overall lead. Zabriskie, of the CSC team, clocked a winning time of 58 minutes, 31 seconds, over 27.9 miles of narrow countryside roads from Lamporecchio to Florence in the first of two time trials in the 20-stage race. Italian Ivan Basso was second, 17 seconds behind, and countryman Paolo Savoldelli was third, 44 seconds back. Overall, Di Luca leads Basso by 9 seconds and Savoldelli by 35 seconds.

LACROSSE

UMASS ENDS SYRACUSE’S FINAL-FOUR STREAK AT 22

Syracuse’s 22-year streak of reaching the semifinals of the NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament ended yesterday with a 16-15 first-round loss at Massachusetts. This will be the first year since 1982 that the Orange will not play in the national semifinals. Syracuse won nine national championships during its run, including last year, 2002, and 2000. Syracuse has a long and storied lacrosse tradition that dates back to the 1950s, when future NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown starred for the Orange.

– Associated Press