Charlotte, n.c.
As if battling a lengthy and saturated course wasn’t enough, playing partners McIlroy and Fowler endured a bizarre event on the sixth tee box when a spectator hurled the dressed-up golf ball their way as Fowler was preparing to hit. The fan was escorted from the property by police.
Fowler, the 2012 winner at Quail Hollow, finished with a 71, leaving him six shots behind Wheatcroft and Loupe, who were also paired together. McIlroy, the only two-time winner of the tournament, shot a 73 after a bogey-plagued start to his title defense. He won by seven shots last year, finishing at 21 under.
Loupe, who has three top-10 finishes this season, shot a 31 on the front nine. Wheatcroft did his work on the four par 5s, playing them in 6 under with two eagles and two birdies.
India’s Anibarn Lahiri was a shot back after a 66.
Prattville, Ala.
The 24-year-old Beck, the first Israeli player to qualify for the LPGA Tour, was in the first group of the day off 10th tee. She birdied four of the final five holes on her opening nine in calmer conditions, and had three more — two on par 5s — on the windier second nine.
Annie Park and Australia’s Minjee Lee were tied for second at 67. They played in the afternoon.
Madrid
The second-seeded Murray broke Simon’s serve in the final game of the first set and twice in the second to stay on track to defend his title.
It was a rematch of the 2008 final in Madrid, when Murray won his first title at the tournament.
Murray will next face either Joao Sousa of Portugal or Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.
Colorado Springs, Colo.
USA Volleyball announced the contract extension Thursday for Kiraly, who won gold medals as a player in beach and indoor volleyball and has embraced establishing a close-knit culture with the women on the national team during the four-year run up to the Rio Games this August.
An assistant coach on Hugh McCutcheon’s staff at the 2012 London Games, Kiraly took over that September with the hopes of getting the Americans on the top step of the Olympic podium this quad after two straight silver medals and losses to Brazil in the gold-medal match.
The Americans are 102-20 under the 55-year-old Kiraly, who brings instant credibility given his decorated playing career.
Delray Beach, Fla.
Delray Beach police say the 25-year-old Parsons died Wednesday. He was crossing a highway early Sunday when he was hit by a 2012 or 2013 Range Rover Sport that fled.
Police say Parsons was wearing headphones at the time and may not have heard the vehicle approaching. They say pieces of the SUV were found at the scene, including a side mirror.
The Michigan native fought for Bellator MMA and had an 11-2-0 record. Bellator president Scott Coker calls Parsons “an exceptional athlete and a rising star in the sport.”