Sports Desk

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

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NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

COLLEGE FOOTBALL


TEXAS MAKES UP GROUND ON TOP-RANKED USC


Texas is changing some minds. The second-ranked Longhorns picked up two more first-place votes in the Associated Press Top 25 yesterday, gaining on no. 1 Southern California. USC is on top of the rankings for a record 27th straight poll. The Trojans received 55 first-place votes and 1,615 points. The Longhorns, coming off a 52-17 victory over previously unbeaten Texas Tech, received the remaining 10 first-place votes and 1,569 points in the media poll.


“I didn’t move USC down as much as I moved Texas up,” said Joe Giglio of the News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C., one of two voters to switch Texas and USC this week. “I feel (the Longhorns) have a more complete resume and I’m really impressed with how they’ve handled their business.”


After a Saturday with no major upsets, the top nine teams held their positions in the Top 25. Texas Tech was the only top-10 team to fall. The Red Raiders dropped seven spots to no. 17 after their first loss of the season. That leaves six unbeaten teams – USC, Texas, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama, and UCLA. With USC and UCLA set to finish the season against each other and a Georgia-Alabama matchup in the Southeastern Conference title game possible, the regular season could end with four unbeaten teams.


Northwestern moved into the rankings this week for the first time since 2001. The Wildcats (5-2) defeated Michigan State 49-14 on Saturday and are now 21st in the country. The Spartans fell out of the rankings. Michigan is back in the rankings after a 23-20 overtime win at Iowa.


GOLF


LUCAS MAKES FUNAI CLASSIC FIRST PGA WIN


In a script right out of Fantasyland, Lucas Glover captured his first PGA Tour victory yesterday with birdies on the last two holes, making a 40-foot putt from the fringe and a 35-foot bunker shot on the last hole to win the Funai Classic at Disney. Glover, who closed with a 7-under 65, was among 10 players who had a chance to win over the final four holes.


Then came a dramatic finish, typical at this tournament. His bunker shot exploded from the sand, high in the air, landed about 5 feet short of the cup and rolled in for birdie. Glover, 25, finished at 23-under 265 to become the third Disney winner in the last four years to make this his first PGA Tour victory.


Tom Pernice Jr. finished one stroke back and a group of five players – Ryan Palmer, Harrison Frazar, Geoff Ogilvy, Justin Rose, and Rich Beem – all came in two strokes behind.


TENNIS


NADAL TIES RECORD WITH 11TH TITLE THIS YEAR


Rafael Nadal won the Madrid Masters before a roaring home crowd yesterday by beating Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia in five sets for his 11th title this year, matching top-ranked Roger Federer’s record.


The top-seeded Nadal won 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) for his 79th victory this season, two more than the injured Federer. It also was the 19-year-old Spaniard’s fourth Masters title, tying the Swiss star.


The loss snapped a 16-match winning streak for the eighth seeded Ljubicic, who won consecutive titles at Metz, France, and Vienna, Austria, before coming to Madrid. Nadal never trailed in the fifth-set tiebreaker. He got a mini break on the first point when Ljubicic netted a passing attempt.


DAVENPORT RECLAIMS TOP RANKING


Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport won the Zurich Open for the fourth time yesterday, beating Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder 7-6 (5), 6-3. Davenport – who will return to no. 1 spot when the rankings are published today – gained revenge for the 2002 final, when she lost to Schnyder in three sets. It was the sixth title of the year for Davenport, whose three previous matches all went to three sets.


– Associated Press

NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


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