Michael Spiech recognized by PING

Michael Spiech recognized by PING

Phoenix, Arizona

Michael Spiech of Tippecanoe Country Club has been honored as a 2010 PING Regional Club Fitter of the Year, PING announced.

The company recognized Spiech for his commitment to helping golfers of all abilities improve their games through custom fitting.

“PING is delighted to recognize Michael for embracing our fitting philosophy and showing golfers that properly fit equipment leads to lower scores and greater enjoyment of the game,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO.

He was nominated by Phil Everson, PING Field Representative for the region.

Canfield falls, 8-3

garfield heights

CVCA defeated Canfield 8-3 Saturday in the championship game of the Garfield Heights Holiday Hockey Tournament.

Along the way Canfield (2-9-1) defeated Garfield Heights and Parma.

Riley Emery had 11 goals and four assists while Joe Geiser added five goals and five assists in the event for the Cardinals.

Akron gives soccer coach extension

AKRON

Akron soccer coach Caleb Porter has signed a six-year contract extension just days after leading the Zips to the school’s first NCAA championship in any sport.

Porter’s new deal keeps him at Akron through the 2020 season. Porter has posted a 90-13-10 record over five seasons.

Last week, the Zips beat Louisville in Santa Barbara, Calif., to capture the national title — the first by a Mid-American Conference school in 45 years.

Akron has been the nation’s most dominant team the past two seasons, going 45-2-3. The Zips also posted 11 straight shutouts and have won 39 consecutive home games.

S. Africa’s stars playing for 100th SA title

DURBAN, South Africa

Four-time winner Ernie Els took a two-shot lead into a marathon last day of the South African Open, after the country’s biggest stars rose into contention on Saturday for the 100th national title.

Els’ second straight 65, a flawless second round of 7-under par, lifted him to the top of the leaderboard at 14-under 130, two strokes clear of Retief Goosen, who finished with a 68.

That means South Africa’s big two — Els and Goosen — will play the final 36 holes today with 19-year-old Frenchman Romain Wattel, who turned professional after he won a European Challenge Tour event as an amateur in his hometown of Strasbourg.

Austrians tie for gold in WCup luge at Park City

PARK CITY, Utah

Peter Penz and Georg Fischler raced to a rare tie for first place with Austrian teammates Andreas and Wolfgang Linger in a luge doubles World Cup event.

It was the first World Cup gold for Penz and Fischler and second gold this season for the Linger brothers — the two-time defending Olympic champions.

Penz and Fischler completed the two runs in a combined time of 1 minute, 27.331 seconds at Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. It was the same time for the Lingers.

Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt of Germany were third in 1:27.474.

Preston Griffall and Matthew Mortensen were the top Americans, finishing fifth to qualify for the world championships.

Italy’s Bertazzo wins WCup 2-man bobsled

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.

Italy’s Simone Bertazzo and brakeman Sergio Riva have won the World Cup two-man bobsled race at Lake Placid.

Trailing leader Karl Angerer and brakeman Alex Mann of Germany led by 0.08 seconds after the first run. Bertazzo rallied with a second run of 55.79 seconds to edge Alexsandr Zubkov and Dmitry Trunenkov of Russia by 0.04 in the 16-sled field on Mount Van Hoevenberg.

Bertazzo’s combined time was 1 minute, 51.40 seconds. Steven Holcomb and brakeman Steven Langton of the USA were fourth.

Ethan Albrecht-Carrie and brakeman Jared Clugston were 13th in USA3.

Vindicator staff/wire reports