Sports

Megan Khang Climbs Into Contention in Canada – LPGA

Published

1 year ago

August 26, 2023

LPGA Tour veteran Megan Khang climbed into contention on Friday at the CPKC Women’s Open, blitzing Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club with a bogey-free 6-under 66, an impressive recovery from the bogey-bogey-bogey finish she had on Thursday. Starting the day at 1-under, the 25-year-old struck early, making a birdie on the par-3 3rd hole, and then went quiet, carding seven consecutive pars from Nos. 4 to 10. But Khang stepped on the gas after she made the turn, rattling off five birdies in a row on holes 11 through 15, the highest number of consecutive holes under par she has recorded since the third round of the 2018 Honda LPGA Thailand. It’s also her first five-hole birdie streak since the 2016 LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei.

Khang parred her last three holes to get in the clubhouse with a 66, which is her lowest score to par this season and which ties her lowest score of the year that she last shot on Sunday at The Amundi Evian Championship. After a frustrating end to her first round, Khang was pleased with how well she bounced back and will be looking to continue that consistency as she once again contends for her first LPGA Tour title over the weekend in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“Today it was a solid day,” said Khang, whose second-round 66 is just her 13th round in the 60s this season. “Yesterday I felt pretty good myself. It’s never a good feeling finishing three bogeys in a row so obviously I knew I could play some pretty good golf out here. Each day is different but, kind of mid-round my ball striking got pretty hot, and then my putter was getting hot as well. The front nine felt monotonous making one birdie, but on this kind of golf course par is definitely your friend, and sometimes it’s a really good par out there.”

It’s been an incredibly solid season for the Massachusetts native who has only missed two cuts and has recorded five top-15 finishes in her 15 total starts ahead of the CPKC Women’s Open, three of which were in major championships. Her season-best result is a tie for third that came at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course and she finished in a tie for ninth at both The Chevron Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship. She even has clinched a spot on the United States Solheim Cup team and will be making her third appearance in the biennial team competition at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia, Spain in late September.

Really the only thing that seems to be missing for her is that elusive first LPGA Tour title, one that she has come close to capturing this season. As Khang eyes another trophy this weekend in Canada, she’ll work to not get too far ahead of herself and stay focused on the challenge in front of her, namely the beast that is Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.

“Coming in, doing the practice rounds, we were all like, ‘Whoa, didn’t realize we were playing another major’,” said Khang. “Definitely birdies are out there. There will be times where if you happen to miss the fairway you’re just going to have to punch out, and that’s okay. As long as you stay level-headed out there, I think it’s okay. Bogeys are going to happen. This golf course I feel like you can’t really get too comfortable on. These fairways are tight, and the greens are fast and firm, so I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m just going out there just trying to deal with one shot at a time. It’s kind of anyone’s game out there. I’m trying not to look at anyone else but just stay within myself.”

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Six birdies with no bogeys for @megan_khang1023! pic.twitter.com/uDVfjD4aom

— LPGA (@LPGA) August 25, 2023

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Canada to face three-time champion Germany in Davis Cup quarterfinals

Published

19 mins ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON – Canada will meet three-time champion Germany in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in Malaga, Spain this November.

Canada secured a berth in the quarterfinals — also called The Final 8 Knockout Stage — with a 2-1 win over Britain last weekend in Manchester, England.

World No. 21 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal anchored a five-player squad that included Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., Gabriel Diallo of Montreal, Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., and Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C.

The eight-team draw for the quarterfinals was completed Thursday at International Tennis Federation headquarters.

Defending champion Italy will play Argentina, the United States will meet Australia and Spain will take on the Netherlands. Schedule specifics have yet to be released but the Final 8 will be played Nov. 19-24.

Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz were unbeaten in doubles play last week to help Germany reach the quarterfinals. The country’s top singles player — second-ranked Alex Zverev — did not play.

The Canadians defeated Germany in the quarterfinals en route to their lone Davis Cup title in 2022. Germany won titles in 1988, ’89 and ’93.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Canadian men climb two places to No. 38 in latest FIFA world rankings

Published

21 mins ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

Canada, fuelled by a 2-1 win over the U.S. and scoreless draw with Mexico, has jumped two places to No. 38 in the FIFA men’s world rankings released Thursday.

Of the top six CONCACAF teams, Canada was the only one to move up. Mexico was unchanged at No. 17 while the U.S. and Panama each fell two rungs to No. 18 and 37, respectively

Costa Rica slipped one spot to No. 50 and Jamaica two places to No. 61.

It marks Canada’s highest ranking under coach Jesse Marsch, who was hired in mid-May when the Canadians were ranked 50th. Since then, the team has climbed to No. 49, 48, 40 and now 38.

Canada has been as high as No. 33 in the men’s ranking, achieved in February 2022 under John Herdman with Canada, named the “Most Improved Side” in 2021 by FIFA, turning heads with an unbeaten run in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

The new rankings encompass 184 internationals involving teams from all six confederations including 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia, Oceania and South America.

The top 10 was unchanged with Argentina ahead of France, Spain, England, Brazil, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Colombia and Italy. But the gap at the top is closing with Argentina losing 2-1 away to Colombia and 3-1 at home to Italy.

Teams 10 through 15 were also unchanged. But there was movement after that in the form of Japan (, up two), Iran (No. 19, up one) and Denmark (No. 20, up one). Egypt (No. 31), Ivory Coast (No. 33), Tunisia (No. 36) and Algeria (No. 41) all jumped five places while Greece (No. 48) climbed six spots.

The biggest movers were Brunei Darussalam (No. 183) and Samoa (No. 185), who vaulted seven spots on the back of two wins apiece.

Qatar suffered the biggest drop, tumbling 10 places to No. 44.

San Marino remains at the bottom of the rankings in 210th place despite recording its first victory in more than 20 years, San Marino defeated Liechtenstein 1-0 on Sept. 5, ending a 140-game winless run since a 1-0 decision over the same opponent in April 2004.

Liechtenstein fell four places to No. 203.

Canada’s next match is an Oct. 15 friendly against Panama at Toronto’s BMO Field. The next men’s ranking will be released Oct. 24.

—

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform, formerly known as Twitter

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024

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Brian White scores second-half goal, earns Whitecaps 1-1 draw with Dynamo

Published

10 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Anne Joseph

HOUSTON (AP) — Brian White scored in the second half to rally the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.

Houston (12-9-8) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Ezequiel Ponce scored on a penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Ponce’s third goal this season came after Amine Bassi drew a foul on Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite following a video review. It was Ponce’s sixth career appearance, all starts.

Vancouver (13-8-7) scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute when White, who entered in the 60th, used assists from Fafá Picault and Ryan Gauld to find the net for the 13th time this season. Picault’s assist was his fifth, matching his career high for a single season. Gauld’s assist gives him a career-best 13 on the season.

Yohei Takaoka, who had clean sheets in his last three starts, finished with one save in goal for the Whitecaps.

Steve Clark saved three shots for the Dynamo, who remain one point behind Vancouver in the Western Conference standings.

Houston, which was coming off a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, has allowed just 33 goals this season.

Vancouver — 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches overall — leads the all-time series 10-9-6.

The Whitecaps remain on the road to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. The Dynamo travel to play Austin FC on Saturday.

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