Quick read: Kerr wins LPGA

Kerr wins LPGA

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Cristie Kerr cruised to a 12-stroke victory in the LPGA Championship on Sunday in one of the most lopsided wins at a major, leaving her in position to become the first American ranked No. 1.

Kerr, the 2007 U.S. Women's Open champion, closed with a 6-under 66 for a 19-under 269 total. She led wire-to-wire, opening with rounds of 68, 66 and 69.

Kerr broke the tournament record for victory margin of 11 set by Betsy King in 1992 and matched the second-biggest victory in a major. Louise Suggs set the record of 14 in the 1949 U.S. Women's Open, and Babe Zaharias won the 1954 U.S. Open by 12 strokes.

By winning at Locust Hill, Kerr will overtake Japan's Ai Miyazato when the world rankings are released today. Kerr, a 14-time tour winner who also won the State Farm Classic two weeks ago, will become the fifth player to hold the No. 1 spot since the rankings started in 2006.

Travelers Championship

Bubba Watson won the Travelers Championship for his first PGA Tour title, overcoming a six-stroke deficit and beating Scott Verplank with a 3-foot par putt on the second hole of playoff in Cromwell, Conn.

Watson, the long-hitting left-hander from the Florida Panhandle, closed with a 4-under 66 to match Verplank (64) and Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin (66) at 14 under. The 50-year-old Pavin dropped out on the first extra hole at TPC River Highlands.

Nadal: Right knee OK

WIMBLEDON, England -- Rafael Nadal's bothersome right knee held up fine during a 40-minute practice at the All England Club on Sunday.

Walking briskly while toting his racket bag after his light workout, Nadal told the Associated Press that his knee felt "good, good; not bad."

Toni Nadal, Rafael's uncle and coach, was more expansive, saying, "The knee is so much better" than it was Saturday, when the 2008 Wimbledon champion received treatment from a trainer during changeovers while coming back to beat No. 33-seeded Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3 in the third round.

That was Nadal's second consecutive five-set victory, the first time he has ever had two matches go the distance this early at a major tournament.

After Sunday's day off, Wimbledon resumes today with all 16 men's and women's fourth-round matches, and the No. 2-seeded Nadal faces 66th-ranked Paul-Henri Mathieu of France.

Metro are top all-stars

ST. CLOUD -- The Metro squad stuck to its strength Saturday in the Minnesota state high school all-star football game at Husky Stadium.

The Metro all-stars went to its running game time and again, forming a tide that drowned the Outstate 28-0 in a game that was called because of lightning in the fourth quarter.

Metro now holds a 16-15 series edge.

Duluth East senior Buma Fon­cham, a defensive tackle on the Outstate team, was the lone North­land player in this year's game. Outgoing Duluth Denfeld coach Frank Huie was an assistant coach for the Outstate team.

UCLA, South Carolina in college baseball finals

OMAHA, Neb. -- UCLA has won a nation-leading 106 NCAA championships in 17 sports. Not one of them is in baseball -- yet. The Bruins' chance is here, against South Carolina, in the best-of-three College World Series finals starting tonight.

UCLA made it to the CWS in 1969 and 1997 and went 0-2 each time.

The Bruins are in the finals a year after finishing 27-29 and not making the 64-team NCAA tournament.

South Carolina reached the CWS finals in 1975, 1977 and 2002, losing each time.

UCLA will start Gerrit Cole (11-3), the New York Yankees' 2008 first-round pick, in Game 1. South Carolina coach Ray Tanner didn't specify his choice to start.