GOLF
No. 1 Park holds off Lewis
Inbee Park won the LPGA Taiwan Championship for her third victory of the year and 12th career title, holding off Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) by two strokes at Miramar. Six days after regaining the No. 1 spot in the world from Lewis, the South Korean newlywed closed with a 1-under 71 in misty rain to finish at 22-under 266. Park opened with rounds of 64, 62 and 69 to take a four-stroke lead over Lewis and China’s Shanshan Feng into the final round. The second-ranked Lewis, also a three-time winner this year, shot a 69. After Lewis birdied the par-4 16th to pull within one, Park birdied the par-3 17th to regain her two-stroke lead. Her only other birdies came on the first two holes and she bogeyed the last two holes on the front nine.
Tom Pernice Jr. won the Champions Tour’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Sunday, beating Jay Haas with a birdie on the fourth hole of a playoff in Scottsdale, Ariz. Pernice, 55, got up-and-down from the left bunker on the par-5 18th, holing a 6-foot putt after Haas made a 12-footer for par. Pernice closed with a 3-under 67 — also making a 6-foot birdie putt on 18 — to match Haas at 11-under 269 on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course. The 6-year-old Haas had a 66. Kenny Perry eagled the final hole for a 68 to finish a stroke back.
Ryan Moore successfully defended his CIMB Classic title in Malaysia, shooting a 5-under 67 for a three-stroke victory — beating fellow American Gary Woodland for the second consecutive year. Moore finished at 17-under 271 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club to become the first player to successfully defend a PGA Tour title since Tiger Woods at the Arnold Palmer Invitation in 2012 and 2013. Woodland had a 67 to tie for second with Sergio Garcia (69) and Kevin Na (70). David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 1-over 73 and finished in a tie for 39th with a 3-under 285.
Germany’s Marcel Siem chipping in for birdie in the BMW Masters in Shanghai to win a sudden-death playoff against France’s Alexander Levy and England’s Ross Fisher. Siem overcame a five-shot deficit at wind-whipped Lake Malaren. He was the only player who failed to hit the 18th green in the playoff, and then thrilled the gallery with a chip from the collar. After closing bogey-bogey finish in regulation for a 1-over 73, Siem won to earn a spot in the World Golf Championship event next week in Shanghai.
BASEBALL
Molitor hiring near
After nearly five weeks spent looking for a manager, the Twins appear to have settled on the first candidate they interviewed. Paul Molitor, a Twins coach and a Hall of Fame player who interviewed for the job just two days after Ron Gardenhire was fired last month, appears to be the team’s choice. Sources with knowledge of the Twins’ managerial search indicate to Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse that Molitor could be hired early next week, barring a last-minute change of mind by the team’s owner and front office. Torey Lovullo, Red Sox bench coach under John Farrell, was the other finalist, and Twins owner Jim Pohlad flew to Lovullo’s home in Los Angeles last week to meet him. But all indications are that Pohlad continues to prefer Molitor, a St. Paul native, as the team’s third manager in 29 seasons. General manager Terry Ryan, who fired Gardenhire after 13 seasons as manager, could make the hiring official as soon as today. Fort Myers Manager Doug Mientkiewicz has been informed he will not be Gardenhire’s successor, though the former first baseman is expected to be promoted to one of the Twins’ top two farm clubs. Mientkiewicz became a finalist after leading the Miracle to the Florida State League championship in September.
MOTOR SPORTS
Hamilton closes in on title
Lewis Hamilton got the better of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg once again Sunday, winning the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, to edge closer to his second Formula One world championship. Hamilton leads Rosberg by 24 points with two races left in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. The final race will be worth double points under a rule change this season. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was third. Rosberg started on the pole, but couldn’t hold Hamilton off the lead for even half the race. Hamilton’s 10th victory on the season also was the 32nd of his career, passing Nigel Mansell for the most Formula One victories by a British driver. Hamilton also won in Texas in 2012. The race started just 18 cars, the smallest grid in nearly a decade.
Erica Enders-Stevens won the NHRA Toyota Nationals on Sunday to reclaim the Pro Stock points lead with one race remaining. Enders-Stevens powered her Chevy Camaro to a 6.587-second pass at 209.36 mph to beat defending series champion Jeg Coughlin in the final. Enders-Stevens has five victories this year, also winning the March event in Las Vegas. She opened a 17-point lead over Jason Line, her semifinal opponent. Del Worsham won in Funny Car, Spencer Massey in Top Fuel, and Andrew Hines in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Worsham won for the first time since 2009, topping 16-time series champion John Force with a 4.06 at 318.39 in a Toyota Camry. The 65-year-old Force is second in the standings, 21 points behind Matt Hagan. Massey raced to his third victory of the season, outrunning J.R. Todd in the final with a 3.756 at 330.88 in his Don Schumacher Racing dragster. It was Massey’s 17th career victory and third at Las Vegas. He’s second in the standings behind Tony Schumacher heading into the Nov. 13-16 finale in Pomona, Calif. Hines beat Matt Smith with a 6.965 at 191.02 on a Harley-Davidson for his sixth victory of the season and 38th overall. He has a 92-point advantage in his bid for a fourth championship.
MARATHON
Kenyans take New York City in final mile
Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany won titles at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, with both pulling away in the final mile.
Kipsang was the world-record holder until five weeks ago, when occasional training partner Dennis Kimetto broke the mark in Berlin. With a windy morning slowing the pace Sunday, Kipsang showed he can win a strategic race, too.
Keitany redeemed herself from failed tactics at her last NYC Marathon. In 2011, she surged ahead to a huge early lead only to be caught and settle for third.
Sunday was her first marathon since 2012 after taking time off because of the birth of her second child.
Kenya’s Jemima Sumgong appeared to be pulling away with just over a mile left, but Keitany had one last burst left and passed her with about 800 meters remaining.
Keitany won in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 7 seconds — 3 seconds ahead of Sumgong, matching the closest finish in the history of the women’s race.
Portugal’s Sara Moreira was third in her marathon debut.
Sumgong is still seeking her first major marathon title. She was also second in Boston in 2012 and in Chicago in 2013.
Sumgong was making her NYC Marathon debut, a late entry after defending champion and training partner Priscah Jeptoo withdrew because of a leg injury.
Bronx resident Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia was ninth after finishing as the runner-up at the last two NYC Marathons. She was seeking to become the first New Yorker to win the race in 40 years.
Kipsang finished unofficially in 2:10:59 — more 7 1/2 minutes off his former record. He has now won titles in Berlin, London and New York in just over 13 months and clinched the $500,000 World Marathon Majors bonus.
Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa was second, about 7 seconds back, and 2010 champ Gebre Gebremariam third. Boston Marathon champ Meb Keflezighi of the United States was fourth. Two-time defending champion Geoffrey Mutai settled for sixth.