Barcelona trails the Spanish leader by four from zgr123's blog
PINEHURST, N. Jusuf Nurkic Nuggets Jersey .C. -- Lucy Li made two double bogeys, a triple bogey and finished her historic round at the U.S. Womens Open just like any other 11-year-old girl. She went straight for an ice cream. The sixth-grader from the Bay Area held her own at Pinehurst No. 2 except for three bad holes. Li wound up with an 8-over 78. That put her 11 shots behind the early leader, two-time major champion Stacy Lewis, and a long shot to become the youngest ever to make the cut in the Womens Open. Li already is the youngest qualifier in championship history. She dressed for PINEHURST, N.C. -- Lucy Li showed her age only when she finished her historic round Thursday at the U.S. Womens Open. Just like any 11-year-old, she went straight for an ice cream. The youngest qualifier ever at the Womens Open played a grown-up game at Pinehurst No. 2, except for three holes that made her 8-over 78 look a lot worse than it was and stretched the odds of her becoming the youngest player to make the cut. "She looks 11. She doesnt talk 11. And she doesnt hit the ball like shes 11," said Catherine ODonnell, who played with her in a sunbaked opening round on a course that only four days ago hosted the mens U.S. Open. The sixth-grader from the Bay Area was the star attraction, right down to her Stars & Stripes outfit to celebrate the occasion. She wore a mid-drift shirt patterned after the American flag, with a similar motif for a skirt, complete with silver stars that matched the colour of her braces. Li wound up 11 shots behind Stacy Lewis, the No. 1 player in the world who opened with a 67. But one moment was telling. The kid made a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 fifth hole and headed to the next tee, her braided pigtails swinging with each step. The media and a large gallery followed her right past the adjacent green, where hardly anyone noticed Lewis making her way around Pinehurst with no bogeys. Only this was more than just a sideshow. Li missed only one fairway -- by less than a yard. Even though she hit fairway metals into half of the holes, she rarely got out of position. Now if she could only take back three shots that led to big numbers. "It was a lot of fun. I kind of struggled today, but it was great," Li said, pausing to lick her ice cream between answers. "I mean, its 8 over. Its not bad. But I was 7 over in three holes, so thats 1 over in 15 holes. So yeah, I just need to get rid of the big numbers." Li had the same score as ODonnell, Natalie Gulbis and Jessica Korda, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour this year. There already were 11 rounds in the 80s. Perhaps most remarkable about her round, besides the 13 pars and two birdies, was how she bounced back from mistakes. "Thats what I was so happy about in my round," she said. "Because after I got doubles and triples, I was able to get it back. Like I made a good stretch of holes after the double on the first hole. And after the triple, I birdied No. 5. And I got a lot of pars after that." Li left a tough angle for her third shot on the par-5 10th hole and came up short and into a bunker. The sand shot looked reasonable until it kept rolling off the back of the green. She chipped with her wedge (a pink shaft) to about 8 feet and missed the putt to take double bogey. Another double bogey came on the 450-yard 16th hole when her fairway metal went into a bunker some 20 yards short of an elevated green, leaving a shot so hard even the best men would have a tough time. Her bunker shot was not strong enough, and she wound up missing a 7-foot bogey putt. Asked to have one swing back, it would be the wedge on the short third hole. She went left of the flag, and it trickled off the turtleback green -- the signature of this Donald Ross course -- and into a bunker. She blasted out over the green, chipped on to 18 feet and three-putted for triple bogey. But she made a pair of smooth birdies -- a 6-iron to 15 feet on No. 1, and a wedge to a right pin position on the fifth hole -- along with some tough par saves. The best came at the 426-yard eighth hole, when her 5-wood from 198 yards went long and over a steep slope right of the green. She lofted a pitch perfectly, and it rolled 6 feet by the cup. This is the same hole where John Daly putted off the green so many times in 1999 that he whacked the ball with his putter when it was still moving and rang up an 11. "Give her that shot again and she cant do that another 50 times, probably," ODonnell said. Along the way in a 5 1/2-hour round, Li often plopped to the ground in the shade and sat until it was time to hit, one time munching from a cup of fruit. "I normally sit down even more than that," she said, giggling as always. Kaymer last week used putter exclusively when he was just off the green. Li chose to chip because thats what made her more comfortable. She won the driving and chipping portion of the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship two months ago at Augusta National. That was for kids. This is for grown-ups. She fit in just fine. "Shes so much more mature than I could possibly imagine," said Jessica Wallace, the other player in their group. "Shes a lot better than people thought. Shes very capable on this golf course. She played like she belongs out here. And it was a real pleasure." The youngest player to make the cut was 13-year-old Marlene Bauer, who tied for 14th in 1947. That was the second U.S. Womens Open, and Baeur -- whose married name was Hagge -- became one of the founders of the LPGA Tour. It was a long day for Lucy Li, and part of her was glad it was over. She also was looking forward to another chance Friday. And what will she do in the meantime? "Eat some more ice cream," she said. the occasion -- an American theme, with silver stars among her red, white and blue outfit. She made two birdies and a couple of grown-up par saves. Mike Miller Nuggets Jersey . "Im very pleased to be able to add a quarterback with Adrians experience and skill set," Calgary head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said in a statement. Wilson Chandler Jersey . Eller said the Oilers were a "junior team" that was "all over the place" before Edmontons 4-3 victory over Montreal on Tuesday night, Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins took offence to Ellers comments and used it to motivate his youthful team. MADRID, Spain -- Madrid is celebrating the success of its two major football clubs after Atletico Madrid ensured a historic Champions League final derby against crosstown rival Real Madrid. Atleticos 3-1 victory at Chelsea saw it progress to its first European Cup final in 40 years, where record champion Madrid awaits after crushing titleholder Bayern Munich 5-0 over two legs. Atletico is on the verge of an historic double as it closes in on its first Spanish league title in 18 years, while Madrid is chasing a treble after winning the Copa del Rey against Barcelona. The feat is all the more impressive for Atletico, which under coach Diego Simeone has completely turned from a club with a history for underachieving and late collapses into a European heavyweight. "Atletico is a real team," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said after Wednesdays defeat. "It knows how to be strong in defence and when to come out and attack. Its a great team." One year after an all-German Champions League final, the continents top competition has its first ever final between clubs from the same city. "Im happy that its an all-Spanish final," Atletico playmaker Koke said of the May 24 date in Lisbon. "Its going to be a special day, a very nice day because all of Madrid will be in Lisbon." The final will also highlight the teams different philosophies and history. Atleticos blue-collar base is far removed from Reals home in the northwest Chamartin area with its leafy avenues, luxury homes, and expensive cars. Madrid is the record 32-time Spanish champion with nine European Cups, and record revenues that are nearly five times that of Atletico allow it to pay for Ballon dOr recipient Cristiano Ronaldo and world-record 100 million euros signing Gareth Bale. Atleticos payroll is a fraction of Madrids or Barcelonas, and it is a club with a history of dubious finances. Yet Simeone, who was on the team that won the league-cup double in 1996, has nurtured a winning culture from a squad that has changed little since his arrival more than two years ago, and despite the sale of star striker Radamel Falcao in the off-season. Malik Beasley Nuggets Jersey. "Its crazy to think were in the Champions League final," Atletico midfielder Tiago Mendes said. "But this team deserves it after everything it has accomplished." Madrid and Atletico have met just once before in the competition, in the 1959 semifinals, where Madrid won a replay 2-1 when their two-leg series finished 2-2. Atleticos only final appearance in 1974 saw it succumb to Bayern Munich 4-0 in a replay following a 1-1 draw. While Madrid beat Atletico en route to this seasons domestic cup trophy, Atletico still enjoyed a breakthrough year against its city neighbour, which is returning to the final for the first time since 2002. Atletico beat Madrid in the Copa del Rey final last season for its first win over its city rival in 25 games. It followed that up with a league victory at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium followed by a draw at home at the Vicente Calderon. Spanish leader Atletico is six points ahead of Madrid, which has one game in hand, with three left to play, while Barcelona trails the Spanish leader by four points. The league has been dominated by Madrid and Barcelona since Valencia was the last club besides the big two to win the championship in 2004. But Atletico could clinch its first title since 1996 with a victory against Levante on Sunday if both Madrid and Barcelona lose their games. The all-Spanish final also proves the domestic league is healthy despite continued economic problems. Either Sevilla or Valencia will also advance to the Europa League final. Even the citys cleanup crews should have an easy time co-ordinating their work following the victors celebrations. Madrid traditionally celebrates its triumphs at Plaza de Cibeles, while Atleticos fans gather just down the street at Plaza de Neptuno. "This is the final all Madridistas have been waiting for," Madrid fan Jose Luis Marron Rodriguez said. "Whatever the result, the European Cup stays at home. Now, let the best team win -- I just hope its Madrid." Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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