SHIMA, Japan -- Japans Shiho Oyama shot a 4-under 68 on Friday to take the first-round lead in the Mizuno Classic, the final tournament in the LPGA Tours five-event Asian swing.
[b]Brock Holt Red Sox Jersey[/b] . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. "But yesterday I had some massage and the pain is gradually fading." Jiyai Shin, the tournament winner in 2008 and 2010, was a stroke back along with fellow South Korean players Chella Choi, Hee-Won Han, Na-Ri Lee, Eun-Bi Jang, American Brittany Lincicome, Japans Junko Omote and Kaori Nakamura and Swedens Pernilla Lindberg. Defending champion Stacy Lewis opened with a 71. The American, the top-ranked player in the field at No. 3, has three victories this year. "It was kind of up and down," Lewis said. "I probably could have played a lot better but I think it could have been worse. I played really tough through a lot of cross winds and I just hung in there all day." Torontos Rebecca Lee-Bentham also opened with a 71. Lincicome had an eagle on the first hole before carding four birdies against three bogeys. South Korean star Inbee Park, who leads the money list and player of the year rankings, is sitting out the tournament as is Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who trails Park on both lists. Lewis leads the LPGA Tour in top-10 finishes this season with 16. Her three victories this season include a major championship, and she still has a remote shot at winning the player of the year award with three events remaining. Karrie Webb of Australia, who won here in 2006, was tied for 36th place after an even-par 72. The 54-hole Mizuno Classic is made up of 43 LPGA Tour players and 35 members of the LPGA of Japan.
[b]Rod Beck Jersey[/b] . -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released veteran guard Davin Joseph, a mainstay on their offensive line over the past eight seasons.
[b]Josh A. Smith Red Sox Jersey[/b] . Peko, a fourth-round pick in 2006, started all 16 games and a playoff loss to San Diego last season. He was second on the line with 72 tackles and had a career-high three sacks.METAIRIE, La. - Saints coach Sean Payton wants his players to be mindful of memorable turnarounds in sports history.If anything, it could make New Orleans immediate future look a little less bleak on the heels of a three-game losing streak.There is value in referencing the slumps of championship teams past, Payton said after Wednesdays practice. Ive made some analogies already with these guys.Certainly, New Orleans prospects for a deep playoff run dont look good right now, even though their 4-7 record is good enough for a first-place tie with Atlanta atop the NFC South.Yet Paytons own experience offers proof of how little a stretch of impressive victories or disheartening losses during the regular season can mean once the playoffs start.In 2011, for example, Payton coached the Saints to a 49-24 rout of the New York Giants on the Monday night after Thanksgiving. For New Orleans, the victory was part of a nine-game winning streak that merely set the stage for a bitter playoff disappointment at San Francisco. For New York, the loss was part of a four-game skid that is now widely remembered as a character-building struggle on the way to Super Bowl glory.In 2009, Payton coached the first team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl after ending the regular season with three straight losses.For the Saints head coach, looking at those seasons or even the way the 2004 Boston Red Sox overcame a 3-0 American League Championship Series deficit against the New York Yankees can be instructive.Youre constantly, as a teacher, trying to do that, Payton said. You look at some parallels, some comparisons.Payton also stressed, however, that for such comparisons to be relevant to the 2014 Saints, We need to find a way to improve. Obviously were not playing well enough right now.On the field, the Saints primary concerns are on defence. In its past two losses, New Orleans has allowed opposing offences to each convert nine of 13 third-down opportunities and to run the ball successfully — with Cincinnati rushing for 186 yards andd Baltimore for 215.
[b]Marco Hernandez Jersey[/b]. Those two clock-consuming trends have limited possessions for Drew Brees and the Saints second-ranked offence.This Sunday, New Orleans heads to Pittsburgh (7-4), where the Saints will have to contend with one of the NFLs top quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger.Strong safety Kenny Vaccaro said the Saints defence, which ranked fourth last season, remains optimistic it can address its deficiencies before its too late.The majority of the guys who were here last year when we (played better) are here now and at the same time, were not going to go in the tank, Vaccaro said. Were being positive. Weve had our games when weve been dominant. Thats our potential. ... Weve been there before.Vaccaro, who is active on social media and reads about every article he can find about his team, said he is aware that many fans see the entire NFC South as a joke, wont take the winner of that division seriously and dont think any of them deserve a chance at the playoffs — never mind hosting a first-round game.It doesnt affect me at all, Vaccaro said, adding that, in his experience, the talent gap between teams at the top and bottom of the standings is rather small. This is the NFL. These are the best players in the world at this game. Everybodys good.By that logic, the Saints might have some surprises in store for the rest of the NFL this season.Far-fetched as that may seem in light of recent results, veteran leaders such as Brees see it differently.Success is the worst teacher; failure is the best teacher, Brees said. Its unfortunate that we have to go through this, but I think everybody buys into that. I think everybody believes that, that were being sharpened by that.We are about to hit the tipping point, Brees added. I believe that. It is only a matter of time. We are going to catch some breaks. We are going to get some wins and hopefully those wins will come in bunches — but we have to win the first one first.___Online:
http://pro32.ap.org/poll and
http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '
Find in Directory
Find in Events
Find in Marketplace