YSU golf finishes 8th at Rutherford Invitational

YSU golf finishes 8th at Rutherford Invitational

University Park, Pa.

The Youngstown State men’s golf team posted an eighth-place finish in a strong field at the Rutherford Invitational hosted by Penn State.

The 54-hole event concluded on Sunday at the PSU Blue Golf Course. The Penguins were alone in fifth after the opening round and then tied with Bowling Green at 583 after the second. YSU started out Sunday with a solid front nine, before dropping some strokes on the back nine and falling off the pace to come in eighth.

YSU had a three-round total of 885 and tied the Nittany Lions in the event. Minnesota was the wire-to-wire winner with a three-round score of 860.

Individually, D.J. Holub was 11th with a three-round total of 218. Bill Gaffney placed 19th, carding a 220. Bryan Yeo finished tied for 46th with a 226, Mark Olbrych was 49th with a 227 and Brandon Pluchinsky posted a score of 234 to finish 67th.

Hawks’ Seabrook gets 3 games for hit on Backes

CHICAGO

Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook has been suspended for three games for his hit on Blues center David Backes during their first-round playoff series.

The NHL announced the punishment Sunday, Seabrook’s 29th birthday. Seabrook received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty for a vicious elbow to Backes’ head late in the third period of Saturday’s Game 2. Backes had to be helped off the ice and did not return during St. Louis’ 4-3 overtime victory.

Seabrook’s penalty led to Vladimir Tarasenko’s tying goal with 6.4 seconds left in regulation. The suspension is a big blow for the Blackhawks, who are down 2-0 heading into Game 3 on Monday night. Seabrook had a goal and an assist in each of the first two games of the series.

Dodgers’ Kershaw throws simulated game

LOS ANGELES

Clayton Kershaw threw a simulated game on Sunday and reported no discomfort after topping out at 90 mph.

Kershaw, who is on the disabled list for the first time in his seven-year career, threw a combined total of 50 pitches from the windup and from the stretch, His bullpen session lasted for about 20 pitches. The 26-year-old left-hander, who led the majors in ERA in each of the previous three seasons, hasn’t pitched since beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 in the season opener in Australia. He injured himself tossing a ball on the side a few days later.

Kershaw says he felt “pretty normal” and that he expects his next step will be a rehab assignment in the minor leagues if he feels OK on Monday.

Wawrinka beats Federer to win Masters

MONACO

Stanislas Wawrinka won the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time after rallying to beat Roger Federer 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 in an all-Swiss final on Sunday.

The Australian Open champion had lost his previous two Masters finals and looked like losing a third until Federer’s level dropped suddenly late in the second set, and Wawrinka began troubling the 17-time Grand Slam champion with his aggressive backhand.

The fourth-seeded Federer, who accepted a wild card invitation to play in the tournament, was also looking to win it for the first time after losing his three previous finals here to eight-time champion Rafael Nadal from 2006-08.

Keeper dies after Gabon soccer match

LIBREVILLE, Gabon

A team official says a goalkeeper has died after being kicked in the head during a championship tournament match in the West African country of Gabon.

Sylvain Azougoui of the AC Bongoville soccer club had just stopped a shot on goal, but the attacker lost his balance on the wet grass and stepped on the goalkeeper’s head.

The team official said the 30-year-old from Benin died on the way to the hospital Sunday. The official would only speak on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Staff/Wire reports