South Africa, India go ahead with one-day cricket series

 

December 6, 2013 11:22 AM

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CAPE TOWN, Dec 6 (Reuters) - The second one-day international between South Africa and India will go ahead in Durban on Sunday and will be marked by a tribute to former president Nelson Mandela

Cricket South Africa confirmed the fixture would be played after discussions with the government following Mandela's death on Thursday at the age of 95.

"We have taken this decision in consultation with Sport and Recreation South Africa," CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement on Friday.

"We will, of course, appropriately mark the passing away of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the father of our nation and one of the world's greatest icons."

Soccer and golf had already stated they would go ahead with their programmes.

The League Cup soccer final between Orlando Pirates and Platinum Stars will take place on Saturday evening after an emergency meeting of stakeholders.

The local Premier Soccer League also confirmed that all other matches in the top two tiers would be played as scheduled, though none will be staged on the day of Mandela's funeral on Dec. 15.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge continued on Friday as large crowds turned out at the Sun City course with spectators in sombre mood along the fairways and greens. (Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Ed Osmond; nick.said@thomsonreuters.com +27832722948 Messaging nick.said.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net; To sign up for our Global Sports Forum chatroom, click on https://forms.thomsonreuters.com/global_sports_forum)

Nelson Mandela tournament to be played next week

December 6, 2013 11:39 AMAP - Sports

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) -- The Nelson Mandela Championship golf tournament will end one day early next week to recognize the state funeral for the late president.

This is the second year the tournament is part of the official European Tour schedule. It was scheduled for Dec. 12-15 at Mount Edgecombe Country Club. The European Tour and Sunshine Tour say it now will start Wednesday and end Saturday.

An official memorial service for Mandela is scheduled for Tuesday at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, where Mandela made his last public appearance at the closing ceremony of the 2010 World Cup. His body will lie in state Wednesday through Friday in Pretoria. The state funeral and burial at Qunu will be Sunday.

The tournament honors Mandela's charity work through the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.

Donaldson leads at somber Sun City

By GERALD IMRAY (AP Sports Writer)December 6, 2013 12:58 PMAP - Sports

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Overnight leader of the Nedbank Sun City Golf Challenge, Jamie Donaldson, of Wales, plays a fairway shot …

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) -- The birdie celebrations were muted and the crowd a little quiet all though Friday.

Gary Player cried on the tee before an early-morning round under gray skies and Ernie Els remembered the photo he has of himself and Nelson Mandela on his desk back at home in Florida.

''It is a very sad day,'' Els said. ''A very sad day for South Africa and the world.''

A somber mood hung over the Nedbank Golf Challenge, South Africa's first major sporting event since former president and anti-apartheid leader Mandela died late Thursday aged 95.

Jamie Donaldson, wearing a black ribbon like all the players, emerged from the emotional day to go to 11 under and hold a three-shot lead over Ryan Moore and Henrik Stenson.

The 30-man field spent around nine hours out on the course to make up for lost time when the first round was halted for lightning a day earlier. Donaldson had seven birdies and a bogey in a second-round 66 to go with his opening 67, with the Welshman saying he played ''aggressive but not daft.''

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File - In this Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 file photo, South African Ernie Els tees off the 9th hole dur …

Moore had a round-leading 65 having finished up a 71 in the first round in the morning for a share of second at 8 under with Stenson. The Swede moved back into contention with a 67 at the end of the second day.

Thomas Bjorn and defending champion Martin Kaymer were tied for fourth another shot back on 7 under. Sergio Garcia had led after the first round before slipping down to a share of ninth with a 73.

Perhaps struggling with the emotions, Els and the rest of the South Africans failed to shine, with Charl Schwartzel the leading home player on 6 under, five off the lead. Els has gone 75, 71 in the first two rounds.

In the early morning, the players had stood with their caddies, some with caps removed, for a moment's silence for Mandela before the first round restarted. Flags drooped at half-mast around the Gary Player Country Club. A hooter sounded to start the brief moment of reflection on the life of the beloved anti-apartheid leader.

One of South Africa's first sporting heroes under Mandela's presidency, four-time major winner Els had walked out of the players' lounge a little after 6:30 a.m. to talk to reporters and share some of his precious memories of the time he spent with Mandela. Els said that since about 1996 and well into his old age, Mandela used to call the golfer every time he won a tournament.

''They were special times and the little time we had together was very special. He was just the most amazing person I have ever met,'' Els said.

Player, South Africa's most successful golfer and whose career so often clashed with South Africa's dark years of apartheid, said he and three friends had prayed and then cried together over Mandela's passing before playing a casual round first thing in the morning before the field went out.

''We all had a tear in our eyes, but it's also a day of celebration because he'd want us to celebrate,'' Player said. ''And we've got to celebrate for what he actually gave this country.''

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Follow Gerald Imray at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP

Stacy Lewis increases lead in Dubai

December 6, 2013 2:21 PMAP - Sports

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Stacy Lewis increased her lead to two strokes in the Dubai Ladies Masters, shooting a 2-under 70 in the third round Friday.

The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour, had an 11-under 205 total in the Ladies European Tour's season-ending event. She had three birdies and a bogey at Emirates Golf Course a day after making eight birdies in a 65.

''It's always hard to follow up a day like I had yesterday, especially on the greens,'' Lewis said. ''It was the kind of day that could have been worse and it could have been better. But overall, I'm right where I need to be going into tomorrow.

''I just didn't hit it quite as close. Didn't have as many good opportunities at birdie. But still hit a ton of greens and, if I can just get a couple more putts to fall early tomorrow, I think I'll be in a good place.''

Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum was second after a 69.

''I don't think I played that bad,'' Phatlum said. ''I just missed a few putts.''

Defending champion Shanshan Feng of China was tied for ninth at 2 under after a 71.

Golf-Northwestern Mutual World Challenge second round scores

 

December 6, 2013 7:07 PM

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Second round scores from the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge at the par-72 Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California on Friday (U.S. unless stated): 133 Tiger Woods 71 62 135 Zach Johnson 67 68 136 Matt Kuchar 68 68 139 Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) 72 67 140 Bubba Watson 70 70 141 Bill Haas 73 68, Jim Furyk 72 69 143 Keegan Bradley 75 68, Ian Poulter (England) 76 67 144 Jason Day (Australia) 76 68, Webb Simpson 73 71 145 Jason Dufner 74 71 149 Jordan Spieth 77 72, Steve Stricker 75 74, Lee Westwood (England) 74 75 150 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 73 77, Hunter Mahan 70 80 153 Dustin Johnson 74 79 (Compiled by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Gene Cherry)