SPORTS digest

Curbstone Coaches to honor Stanhope

To kick off the 2019 season, the Curbstone Coaches will honor Miranda Stanhope, the Ohio division III state cross country champion from Badger High School at Monday’s luncheon meeting at the Avion Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.

The event begins at noon and the public is welcome to attend.

Iowa DB Hooker declares for to NFL

IOWA CITY, Iowa

Iowa defensive back Amani Hooker will enter the NFL draft.

Hooker, a first-team All-Big Ten pick and the league’s defensive back of the year, announced Saturday on social media that he’s leaving school early and turning pro.

The 6-foot, 210-pound Hooker starred as a hybrid safety/linebacker for the Hawkeyes (9-4) in 2018, picking off three passes while making 65 total tackles.

West Virginia hires Troy’s Neal Brown

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.

West Virginia has hired Troy’s Neal Brown on a six-year, $19.05 million contract to coach the Mountaineers.

Brown replaces Dana Holgorsen, who left West Virginia to become Houston’s coach.

The school announced Brown’s hiring on Saturday. President E. Gordon Gee says he’s confident the 38-year-old Brown is a “good fit” for West Virginia, its football program and the state.

Brown coached Troy since 2015 and went 35-16 at the Sun Belt Conference school in Alabama, including 3-0 in bowl games.

Before his tenure at Troy, Brown spent two years as offensive coordinator at Kentucky. He has Big 12 experience, having spent three years at Texas Tech as offensive coordinator.

Woodland stays in front at Kapalua

KAPALUA, Hawaii

Gary Woodland made a 65-foot eagle putt and finished with a birdie for a 5-under 68 to keep his three-shot lead in the Sentry Tournament of Champions on Saturday.

Rory McIlroy starts the new year playing in the final group after a 68.

They were tied late in the third round when McIlroy missed birdie chances at the par-5 15th and had to scramble for par on the 16th. In the group behind him, Woodland made his long eagle putt to regain the lead.

He was at 17-under 202.

Marc Leishman, who made a double bogey on Thursday and a triple bogey on Friday, eliminated big numbers and had a 68. He was four behind.

The only downer for Woodland was learning that his grandmother in Kansas had died Friday night. This is a family vacation for most of the Woodland crew — for Christmas, he flew out 11 relatives.

“She’s been downhill for a little while now,” Woodland said. “It’s been tough. And you try to prepare for that, but you never really can. Definitely will have a little extra emotion with me, but we’ll get through it.”

Brooks Koepka shot 73 and was tied for 29th. He needed a two-way tie for eighth to remain No. 1 in the world over Justin Rose, one of three eligible players for the winners-only field that is not at Kapalua this week.

Cal defensive back Bryce Turner, 19, dies

BERKELEY, Calif.

California defensive back Bryce Turner has died after being hospitalized for a medical emergency during a non-team workout. He was 19.

California announced Turner’s death Saturday. There was no cause of death immediately given.

Turner was hospitalized following a workout this week near his Southern California home. The school called it a “medical emergency” and has provided no other details.

Turner starred in high school at St. John Bosco Prep outside of Los Angeles. He spent the 2016 season at Long Beach City College before joining Cal. He redshirted his first year and played one game with one tackle this season.

Staff/wire report