Sports Briefs

Golf

Sorenstam misses cutin LPGA Tour farewell

Annika Sorenstam's LPGA Tour career presumably ended Friday when she failed to qualify for the third round of the ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Sorenstam shot a 3-over 75, putting her at 5 over for the week — two shots away from surviving the cut from 32 down to 16 for Saturday, after which the field will be pared in half again before the final-round battle for $1 million.

"All of a sudden, the time is here," Sorenstam said. "You're standing there on the 18th fairway and it's your last approach shot in an LPGA event. A lot of thoughts go through your head ... and what's been the coolest thing this week is all these people who showed up that I don't know, my fans."

They showed up in droves Friday. Everyone wanted to see history, in case it really was the final round of Sorenstam's 72-win, Hall of Fame LPGA career.

"I hope she would come back, but I don't think so," said Tom Sorenstam, Annika's father. "But she never tells me anything."

Katherine Hull shot 71 to get to 5 under, making her the leader after two rounds, a fact that will be completely irrelevant Saturday morning. The scorecards of the surviving 16 all get erased for the third round, and will again when the final eight play Sunday.

Champions Tour Qualifying Tournament: Thanks to back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16, Robert Thompson captured medalist honors at the Champions Tour Q-School event in Coral Springs, Fla. The top five finishers earned fully-exempt status for the 2009 season. Kentuckian Russ Cochran finished in a tie for 11th at 2-over 290, giving him conditionally exempt status.

Dunlop Phoenix: Tomohiro Kondo fired a 2-under 69 to grab a one-stroke lead at Miyazaki, Japan. Sweden's Henrik Stenson was a stroke back at 4-under 138. Defending champion Ian Poulter finished with a 73 and is tied for 44th place at 4-over. Ernie Els, the 1993 winner, fell to a share of 38th place at 3-over after a 73.

College Football

Tebow's backup charged with theft

Florida backup quarterback Cameron Newton was charged with stealing another student's laptop computer after being arrested Friday.

Newton was suspended from the team, spokesman Steve McClain said, and was being held in the Alachua County jail. He has been charged with felony counts of burglary, larceny and obstructing justice.

According to the University Police Department, Newton stole the laptop worth $1,700 and threw it out his dormitory window Friday when officers arrived to investigate the theft.

A student reported the computer stolen Oct. 16, according to the police report, and an investigation linked the laptop to Newton five days later when he allegedly used the machine to access the school's network.

UK Sports

Baseball team signs seven

UK baseball coach Gary Henderson said he received letters of intent from six pitchers and one catcher for the 2010 season. Among the signees is Jordan Cooper, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander from Shelbyville, Tenn., who is rated No. 81 on Baseball America's list of high school prospects. UK also signed the top prospect in Kentucky, Covington Catholic catcher Luke Maile.

Volleyball Cats sweep Auburn

The UK volleyball team swept visiting Auburn 3-0 on Friday for its 17th Southeastern Conference victory. Sophomore Sarah Mendoza had nine kills, and freshman Becky Pavan added seven kills and seven blocks for the Cats (26-4, 17-2), who won by scores of 25-20, 25-15 and 25-18. "We really played well as a team tonight," UK Coach Craig Skinner said. UK will play host to Tennessee on Nov. 28 in the regular-season finale.

Tennis

Davis Cup finals tied 1-1

Feliciano Lopez upset Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-3 Friday, allowing Spain to escape the first day of the Davis Cup finals tied 1-1 tie with host Argentina, a heavy favorite to its first Cup. David Nalbandian brushed aside David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening singles, and del Potro was expected to comfortably handle Lopez on his favored hard court. The doubles competition is Saturday.

The last word

Ten games into the season, Chicago Bears return specialist Devin Hester is still searching for a touchdown after two record-setting seasons.

"It's tough on me. I don't even like going outside now."