The Associated Press
GOLF

The Associated Press

MORELIA, Mexico – Former Arizona Wildcat Lorena Ochoa added another title to her résumé Sunday.

Ochoa shot a 5-under 68 to hold off Norway’s Suzann Pettersen by a stroke in a dramatic final round to win the Corona Championship for the second straight year.

Ochoa, who also won the tournament in 2006, had back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to break a tie with Pettersen and finish at 25-under 267.

The charismatic star played without regular caddy Dave Booker, who got hurt playing a soccer match on Saturday and was unable to help the 27-year-old Ochoa around Tres Marias Residential Country Club. She ended up calling on childhood coach Rafael Alarcon to caddy for her.

“I hope Dave gets well soon. We don’t know for how long he’s going to be out, but Rafa was very important today. He knows my game very well and we will make a decision for the future later on this week,” Ochoa said.

“Rafa has been giving me advice since I was little, so we didn’t do anything different out there, just enjoyed it.”

Alarcon helped Ochoa win her 26th career title and second this season. It was also Ochoa’s third win in her home country, where she has played 11 of the 13 LPGA Tour events staged in Mexico.

South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi finished third at 18 under, Wendy Ward was another shot back and Christie Kerr and Yani Tseng tied for fifth at 16-under par.

Ochoa, who won last year’s tournament by 11 shots, didn’t have such an easy time Sunday despite finishing the tournament with the exact same score.

“In a golf tournament, where one (stroke) is enough to win, there is no difference. This is a complicated year, there are many players who want to win, and you can see that every week,” Ochoa said. “This year, it will be very hard to win by 10. That is why I keep practicing, trying to improve – to remain on top of them.”

Pettersen tied for the lead with a birdie on the third hole, Ochoa recaptured it with a birdie on the fourth, and the Norwegian birdied again at the fifth to tie it once more.

Ochoa took a two-stroke lead with birdies on the sixth and eighth, but a bogey at the 11th and Petterson’s birdie at the 12th tied it again.

Ochoa took the lead for good with birdies at No. 15 and No. 16, calling her putt there “one of the best” of her career, denying Petterson her first LGPA Tour win since 2007.

PGA Zurich Classic

AVONDALE, La. – Jerry Kelly rallied with a pair of birdies on the back nine Sunday, showing steady nerves to win the Zurich Classic for his first PGA Tour title since 2002.

Kelly birdied the fifth before bogeys on No. 8 and No. 10 brought him back to the pack. He then birdied the 11th and 14th to shoot 71 and finish 14 under for the tournament, one shot clear of Charles Howell, Rory Sabbatini and Charlie Wi.

Champions Tour

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Tom Lehman made a par putt on the second playoff hole to become the 13th player to win his Champions Tour debut, teaming with Bernhard Langer to fend off Craig Stadler and Jeff Sluman in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.

Each team finished at 27-under 189 in the better-ball event.

Ochoa, with 2 late birdies, outduels Pettersen, wins by 1 shot

Citizen Staff Writer
ARIZONA WILDCATS FOOTBALL

JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

Getting drafted into the NFL can cause all sorts of emotions.

Angry is the best way to describe former Arizona offensive tackle Eben Britton.

The Wildcat junior, who declared early for the NFL, is thrilled about Jacksonville choosing him.

But he’s ticked off about going in the second round of Saturday’s NFL’s draft.

“I’m extremely (upset) about not being taken in the first round,” Britton told the Tucson Citizen. “I’m the most underrated player in this draft. I will lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Super Bowl.”

Britton will join former Wildcat receiver Mike Thomas, who was drafted Sunday in the fourth round by Jacksonville. The two will take part in a Jaguars’ minicamp next week.

Britton, projected by several news outlets as a first-round pick, going as early as No. 22 to Minnesota, or No. 28 to Buffalo, fell to the 39th pick overall.

The 6-foot-5, 317-pound lineman was the fifth offensive tackle chosen, and one of seven picked in the opening two rounds.

“I’m angry. But I am thrilled about going to a great organization in Jacksonville,” Britton said. “I couldn’t ask for a better place to go than playing for the Jaguars and coach Jack Del Rio. They like to run the ball, and I want to help them do that.”

Britton wasn’t the first offensive tackle taken by Jacksonville, which picked Virginia’s Eugene Monroe eighth in the first round.

Monroe is slated to be the future left tackle. Britton will compete for playing time at right tackle or right guard.

“I think there’s room for him,” Del Rio told the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Web site. “We just made the (offensive line) more competitive.”

Jacksonville has a need for help up front after ranking 23rd in the league a year ago in sacks allowed, and going from second in rushing during the 2007 campaign to 18th last season.

Britton played the first two years at Arizona at right tackle before switching sides before the 2008 season.

The switch was geared to help the Wildcats, and to boost Britton’s draft stock. SI.com wrote days before the draft that Britton would be better served to stay in college another year to guarantee him a higher pick.

Britton isn’t backing down from his decision or what he plans to do.

“Every team that passed on me is going to regret it,” Britton told the Jaguars’ Web site. “I’m going to work my (butt) off to be a Jacksonville Jaguar. When that first game comes, somebody is going to pay for it. People (have always) told me I wasn’t big enough. I wasn’t strong enough. That all ends today.

“There’s nobody in this draft that has a bigger heart than I do. I’m so fired up to be a Jacksonville Jaguar, you can’t even believe it.”

Citizen Staff Writer
ARIZONA WILDCATS FOOTBALL

JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

Wide receiver Mike Thomas will be the first to say he can make a big impact in the NFL despite being small.

Apparently, the Jacksonville Jaguars agree.

The former University of Arizona receiver was the seventh pick in the fourth round, by Jacksonville, on Sunday. The Jaguars also selected fellow Wildcat Eben Britton, an offensive tackle, in the second round.

Quarterback Willie Tuitama, safety Nate Ness, linebacker Ronnie Palmer and the rest of the Wildcats hoping to be drafted will now wait for possible free-agent deals.

The 5-foot-8 Thomas, projected to go as high as the third round, likely fell lower because of his lack of height.

“I think it is going to fuel my fire,” Thomas said. “I’ve got knocked down for being 5-8, 5-7 or whatever you want to call it,” Thomas said on a conference call. “I definitely think that is going to spark my fuse and it’s already sparked my fuse. I’m just ready to get going.”

He will be a slot receiver for the Jaguars, who lacked a dynamic wideout last season.

“The coaches said we need a player (who) when you throw him the ball, they can get fast quick. And that’s what (Thomas) can do,” Jacksonville director of player personnel Terry McDonough said on the Jaguars’ team Web site. “He can get off the spot. He has burst.

“He’s a lively guy. We thought he was probably going to go maybe a round earlier. So he was the top-rated player on our board when we got him.”

Thomas set a UA and Pac-10 record with 259 career receptions. He caught at least one pass in all but one game during his career. In the only game he didn’t catch a ball, he had a broken hand and was used as a decoy.

He will be competing for playing time immediately, and will have a talented role model in Torry Holt, who was traded to the Jaguars from St. Louis this week.

“I’m going to get right under his armpit and soak as much information from him as I can and watch him every day. I hope he takes me in as one of his little brothers, just try to teach me the way,” Thomas told the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Web site. “I’m going to be like a little sponge and I couldn’t ask for any more.”

Jacksonville got rid of Matt Jones, Jerry Porter and Reggie Williams during the offseason, leaving plenty of room for Thomas to get playing time.

One of the receivers Thomas will compete with for time is former UA star Dennis Northcutt, who like Thomas is among the top five in nearly every UA major statistical category.

Thomas finished with 3,231 receiving yards, third on the all-time list behind Bobby Wade (3,351) and Northcutt (3,252).

Thomas’ 23 career touchdown catches tie him for third with Bobby Wade behind Theopolis Bell (30) and Northcutt (24).

“The sky is the limit for me,” Thomas said on the conference call. “I’m there to play ball. I have been playing since I was 5. I feel like I have a real knack for just making plays.

“I’m ready. I’m determined. I want to . . . get with the Jaguars and stick.

” I’m real excited. I’m ready to get to work.”

Thomas says slip to fourth round will ‘fuel my fire’

Thomas: Slip to 4th round

is going to ‘fuel my fire’

The Associated Press
NBA

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – The Philadelphia 76ers lost six games this season on game-winning shots in the final 5 seconds, including buzzer beaters by Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki and Devin Harris.

So how nice it was to celebrate a last-second winner.

Ex-Arizona Wildcat Andre Iguodala beat the final buzzer with a 3-pointer to finish with 25 points, and the 76ers overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Los Angeles Lakers 94-93 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory.

Fifteen of Philadelphia’s 34 wins have been decided by six points or fewer.

“We cleared it out for Andre and gave him the option,” interim coach Tony DiLeo said. “He could have drove to the basket, he could pitch for a 3, but he said coming out: ‘I’m going to win the game.’ So he knew what he was going to do, and he did it.

“This was a great win for us. I can’t think of a better one. It shows the resiliency of the team.”

The Sixers were trailing 78-67 when DiLeo put in little-used forward Donyell Marshall for the first time, hoping he could provide the same spark he did in Sunday’s 85-77 win over Miami, when Marshall scored 10 fourth-quarter points – his first since Feb. 17.

The 14-year veteran made a 3-pointer 19 seconds later, igniting a 20-2 blitz that turned Philadelphia’s 12-point deficit into an 86-80 lead with 5:24 to play. Marshall capped the rally with another 3-pointer, then hit his third 3 of the game to put the Sixers back in front 91-89 with 2:22 left.

“You never know when your name is going to be called,” Marshall said. “I work out all the time with the strength and conditioning coach. Even though I haven’t been playing much, I still get some side stuff in.”

Pau Gasol hit two free throws for the Lakers with 1:39 to go, and Kobe Bryant – who scored 11 points during a foul-plagued 33 minutes – hit a 23-footer over Iguodala for a 93-91 lead after missing his previous five shots.

Following a timeout, Andre Miller inbounded to Iguodala, who was covered loosely by Trevor Ariza before connecting from the top of the key.

“Hats off to him. He’s an extremely talented player, and I think the world of him,” Bryant said. “We spent a great deal of time talking in the summer, and I was happy with the way he played. He had a good look at it and he knocked it down. In hindsight, we should have taken the foul.”

Cavaliers 97, Magic 93: At Cleveland, LeBron James drained a long 3-pointer with 47.4 seconds left and added two free throws with 8.7 seconds to go as the Cavaliers improved to 30-1 at home.

Hawks 119, Kings 97: At Atlanta, Al Horford had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Josh Smith finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the Hawks’ sixth straight victory.

Mavericks 103, Pistons 101: At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks finally took advantage of an injury-depleted foe, leading the Pistons from start to finish. The Mavs won their eighth straight at home.

Jazz 103, Wizards 88: At Salt Lake City, Deron Williams scored eight of his 12 points in the third quarter and Carlos Boozer finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds as the Jazz ended a three-game losing streak.

Spurs 93, Timberwolves 86: At San Antonio, Tony Parker scored 24 points to once again carry San Antonio against Minnesota, and the Spurs survived without Tim Duncan.

Bulls 127, Celtics 121: At Chicago, John Salmons tied a career-high with 38 points, and the Bulls rallied for another surprising victory despite 37 points from Paul Pierce.

Warriors 127, Clippers 120: At Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis matched his season high with 29 points, while Corey Maggette had 21 in Golden State’s win.

Ex-Cat Iguodala’s buzzer-beater lifts 76ers over Lakers

Readers
SPORTS SOUND-OFF

Re: Richard Jefferson Gymnasium

RJ, what a class guy. Fendi my opinion of you as a person was elevated even further. The players hold no ill will against Lute, why should any of us?

CATGRAD97

Richard Jefferson rules! He is the class of the NBA. Too bad he’s stuck in Milwaukee. I’d love to see him as a Sun. Come on, Kerr!

TRODELPOST

A wonderful thing given generously by one of the many good young people who have passed over the threshold of our university.

AMUSED

Citizen Staff Writer

The one thing Richard Jefferson wanted to make certain of was that he would get a key to the Richard Jefferson Gymnasium.

Heck, if University of Arizona officials were smart, they’d give him a few more keys to hand out to Lute Olson and Gilbert Arenas – some of the people who helped influence Jefferson’s basketball career at UA from 1998 to 2001.

“Without coach Olson, none of this would be possible,” Jefferson said Monday night at a dedication dinner for the Wildcats’ new basketball/multipurpose practice facility. “He helped me become a man and to be very successful not only here but also in life.”

Because Jefferson is successful and in his eighth year in the NBA, he was able to donate $3.5 million to help fund the $14 million gym to the east of McKale Center.

Olson, in his first public appearance since retiring as UA’s head coach, was there for Jefferson, sitting at the center table next to the NBA star.

“I’m feeling well. I’m still under doctor’s directions,” said Olson, 74, whose doctor announced six weeks ago the Hall of Fame coach had suffered a small stroke within the last year.

Olson looked right at home in his blue blazer and red tie Monday. He hugged his former players, patting junior guard Nic Wise on the head. Freshman guard Brandon Lavender made a beeline right to Olson once he saw him.

“It’s great to see (the players),” Olson said. “As soon as I have the OK, I’ll be able to come and watch them.”

The Hall of Fame coach has watched the Wildcats on TV, saying “they’ve been so close” as UA has lost its two games in the final seconds.

Senior Fendi Onobun was headed to speak to Olson, saying, “it was great to see him. I just want to say hello because I’m not sure when I’ll see him again.”

Nowhere in sight, however, was Jefferson’s former teammate Arenas, now a star with the Washington Wizards, who is currently injured.

Not that Arenas was expected to show up Monday night.

But Jefferson, who is averaging 18.4 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Milwaukee Bucks, has joked that one of the reasons he gave the money to UA was so he wouldn’t be trumped by a donation from Arenas. His biggest fear: that Gilbert’s name would be on the building.

“I really mean that,” Jefferson joked. Later adding, “(Arenas) can come and see my gym any time he’d like. I don’t care. I just want to make sure I get my key. And soon.”

Arenas and Jefferson helped lead UA to the 2001 national championship game against Duke, along with Michael Wright and Loren Woods. All four were drafted in the NBA that year, but Jefferson has been the most consistent.

Current Wildcats thanked Jefferson for helping fund the 20,000-square-foot gym.

“It’s an awesome facility,” Onobun said. “What it does for the program is put us at another level in comparison to the other universities in the conference.

“It also gives us a competitive edge. At one point, we had three teams sharing one court” at McKale Center.

As Onobun said, it gives UA student-athletes a “chance to be the best that we can be.”

It’s another reason Jefferson gave the $3.5 million, the second-largest individual donation to the UA athletic department and believed to be the largest ever given by a current pro athlete to his alma mater.

Jefferson wants Arizona to succeed, so his “trash talking” about the school can be effective.

Just like in his days from 1998-2001, when the Wildcats helped rule the Pac-10 and fell to Duke 82-72 in the 2001 title game in which Jefferson scored 19 points and had eight rebounds.

The new practice facility makes Jefferson envious.

“Of course, I wish I had it,” he said. “We were playing in Bear Down, an un-air-conditioned gym in Arizona is something that is not pleasant. We definitely needed this. I’m just glad I’m one of the people to help bring this here.”

Monday’s dedication also included the Kasser Family Pool, which is connected to the gym to the south.

The Kasser Family Pool is a 33-meter-by-25-meter state-of-the-art diving well that features two 1-meter and three 3-meter springboards on concrete stands. The diving structure has platform heights of 3, 5, 7.5, and 10 meters.

“I’m very glad I did it,” said Michael Kasser, a real estate investor, who said his father had a liking for water polo and had earmarked money for UA’s attempt at fielding a women’s water polo team.

Kasser said his father was big on Latin quotes and one that stuck with him was “healthy minds; healthy bodies.”

“We have always followed that concept. … It so good to see all these successful athletes. It’s a real honor to participate in this.”

It’s another reason Olson felt compelled to be there.

Steve Rivera’s e-mail:

srivera@tucsoncitizen.com

STEVE RIVERA

Citizen Staff Writer

STEVE RIVERA

srivera@tucsoncitizen.com

Former University of Arizona star Richard Jefferson is expected to be in Tucson for the dedication of the Wildcats’ new basketball/multi-purpose facility on Monday.

The 5:30 p.m. dedication also will include the Kassar Family Pool.

Jefferson, a member of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks after seven years with the New Jersey Nets, donated $3.5 million to help with the $14 million project.

The facility – known as the Richard Jefferson Gymnasium – is a 20,000-square-foot building east of McKale Center. It holds two full-length basketball courts and five volleyball courts.

The gift is the second-largest individual donation to the UA athletic department and it’s believed to be the largest ever given by a current professional athlete to his alma mater.

In August 2007, when the donation was announced, Jefferson said, “For the most part, my main reason was to just give back to the school. My teammates . . . probably get tired of me talking about Arizona so much,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson is a Phoenix native and a three-year letter winner for UA (1998-2001).

According to UA, the Kasser Family Pool is a 33-meter-by-25-meter state-of-the-art diving well that features two 1-meter and three 3-meter springboards on concrete stands. The diving structure has platform heights of 3, 5, 7.5, and 10 meters, each with Rough-Tex surfacing.

Michael Kasser is president of Holualoa Companies, a real estate investment company. He and his family moved to Tucson in 1994 and have donated to a number of UA causes.

San Diego St. (6-1) at UA (5-2)

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: McKale Center

TV: FSNA

Radio: 1290 AM, 107.5 FM

The Associated Press
THE BOUNCE

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Former Kentucky linebacker Wilbur Hackett Jr.’s latest hit may be his most popular of all.

The former Wildcat standout and current Southeastern Conference official was the umpire in Saturday night’s LSU-South Carolina game and became an instant Internet sensation for his shoulder-first knock back of Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia.

By mid-day Tuesday, there were at least 14 versions of the play on YouTube.com with more than 1 million combined views.

That doesn’t count those who watched as ESPN featured the collision from its LSU-South Carolina broadcast on SportsCenter the past few days.

For the few left who haven’t seen the clip, South Carolina stood first-and-goal on the LSU 8 when Garcia took the snap, started right and cut back left. Hackett, the umpire, slid along the line of scrimmage with the play. Then when Garcia turned slightly toward the middle, Hackett appeared to step into the freshman quarterback with his right shoulder and forearm.

The crash knocked Garcia off balance as LSU safety Curtis Taylor rushed in to finish the tackle.

South Carolina offensive lineman Jarriel King helped Garcia up after the 4-yard gain.

The league’s coordinator of football officials, Rogers Redding, reviewed the tape and considered the hit to be inadvertent contact, SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said.

Bloom said the umpire position lends itself to more contact than is seen with other on-field officials. “We feel there was nothing else that needs to be read into it and it was a collision between a player and an official,” he said.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

BEIJING – Four years later, Olympic softball remains lopsided.

The U.S. team began its run toward a fourth straight gold medal in record-breaking fashion as ex-Arizona Wildcat Jennie Finch pitched four no-hit innings and Andrea Duran drove in three runs, powering the Americans to an 11-0 rout of Venezuela in their Olympic opener on Tuesday.

Natasha Watley hit a two-run homer, Crystl Bustos hit a solo shot and ex-Wildcat Caitlin Lowe added an inside-the-parker as the U.S. set an Olympic record for runs in a game. And they did it just five innings before the game was halted by the run-rule.

It was a dominant performance like the ones the U.S. team strung together at the Athens Games in 2004.

“We were so amped up when we got here,” Bustos said. “We couldn’t wait to get this started. We’re sick of practice.”

The Americans figured to be challenged in China, but it wasn’t by the Venezuelans who were run off the field in the Olympic debut.

Following pregame introductions and the traditional gift exchange between the teams, U.S. and UA coach Mike Candrea gathered his team near their dugout and shouted, “Who do you play for?”

“U-S-A,” shouted the world’s top-ranked team.

Then, the Americans went out and played like it.

They threatened in their first at-bat, but after putting two runners on with none out, the U.S. couldn’t push a run across against Johana Gomez, who plays for Southeastern Community College in Burlington, Iowa.

It’s safe to say she’s never seen a lineup like this one, and the U.S. displayed its top-to-bottom depth and speed while scoring four runs in the second.

Duran was hit by a pitch leading off and raced to third on Stacey Nuveman’s single. Former Wildcat Lovieanne Jung followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

One out later, Watley drilled a two-run homer to center field and as she rounded the bases, her teammates danced out of the dugout to welcome her at home plate. Moments later, they were back on the field.

Lowe reached out and poked a lazy fly that left fielder Rubilena Rojas misjudged and it sailed over her head. Rojas stumbled and fell while trying to track it down, and by the time she got to the ball, the lightning-fast Lowe was nearly crossing the plate.

The U.S. added two runs in the third, keyed by Bustos’ homer.

Four years ago in Greece, the U.S. players were softball goddesses. They obliterated the tournament field, outscoring the other seven teams 51-1 to win their third consecutive gold medal.

The Americans were hailed as “The Real Dream Team” after the U.S. men’s hoops team fell flat on its high-profiled face and went home with a bronze.

With 10 players back from the ’04 squad, the U.S. is expected to roll again.

However, the road to gold is paved with potential potholes as Japan, Australia, China and Canada all have enough talent to hang with the Americans.

Things should get much tougher for the U.S. on Tuesday night when it faces long-time nemesis Australia. It will be a rematch of the gold-medal game in Athens, which the U.S. won 5-1.

In the tournament opener, Canada defeated Taiwan 6-1. Laura Bay Regula allowed just one hit in five innings and Megan Timpf drove in three runs for the Canadians, who scored just six runs while finishing fifth in 2004.

UP NEXT

United States vs. Australia, 9 p.m. Tuesday, CNBC

The Associated Press
RealFAST SCORES AND MORE

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fomer University of Arizona star and four-time Olympian Amanda Beard, five-time Olympian Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin, who won five medals four years ago in Athens, were chosen as captains of the U.S. Olympic women’s swimming team.

Erik Vendt, Jason Lezak and Brendan Hansen, were named captains of the men’s team in Beijing. The captains were decided in a team vote.

The U.S. team, which also includes Tucsonan Lacey Nymeyer and Tucson resident Matt Grevers, is training in Singapore before leaving Monday for Beijing. Swimming begins Aug. 9.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press
THE BOUNCE

SUNNINGDALE, England – With her powerful sense of competitive pride, Annika Sorenstam knows that none of her rivals will step aside at the Women’s British Open just so she can win her final major.

The former University of Arizona star, who dominated women’s golf for a decade, is out to win her 11th major before she bows out at the end of the season.

“I would love to win here,” Sorenstam said.

The strongest field ever assembled for the British championship will be trying to keep her from that goal, however.

Defending champion Lorena Ochoa, also an ex-UA star, is looking for her second major of the year and rivals such as Karrie Webb, Juli Inkster, Se Ri Pak and Laura Davies are also in the field with several newcomers from the United States and South Korea.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO – Antoine Cason called it “a big relief.”

The Chargers first-round draft pick and former University of Arizona star signed a five-year contract Thursday worth slightly more than $12 million, assuring he will be in camp when the team holds its first full-squad practice.

Cason was the team’s final draft pick to agree to terms. He missed three days of rookie camp while the two sides finalized a deal that includes a signing bonus of roughly $6 million.

“The Chargers were great to work with and Antoine is excited to get going,” said his agent, Ron Slavin.

Cason is expected to be on the field Friday morning when the Chargers hold their first full-squad practice.

“I was concerned, but I had faith that it would get done,” he said. “All I could do was work out and control the things I was able to control and that was that. I didn’t worry about it too much because I knew it would get done, so I did the things I could control.”

Cason will compete for the nickel back spot.

“I definitely think I did have a good offseason and worked hard to put myself in a position to be here,” Cason said. “I just want to get out there and play well and do the things I know I am capable of doing and also learn this game a little bit more. I’m new and just want to get in and learn.”

As a UA senior, Cason won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. He intercepted five passes and returned two punts for touchdowns last season.

Cason spoke with his father, Wendell, soon after the contract was finalized. The elder Cason spent three years with the Atlanta Falcons.

“He told me congratulations and we talked a little bit,” the younger Cason said. “But we’ve been talking about football all summer. It doesn’t matter what I call about, it always comes back to football.”

The Associated Press
RealFAST SCORES AND MORE

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – Lorena Ochoa, a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour this year who took off the last three weeks, shot a 7-under 65 and held a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Evian Masters.

Ochoa, a former UA Wildcat, started her round with a birdie and added six more on the back nine in a bogey-free round. Ahn Sun-ju, Candie Kung and Angela Park trailed by one stroke, while former Wildcat Annika Sorenstam shot a 71 with four bogeys.

Citizen Staff Writer
THE BOUNCE

JENNY MAYER

sports@tucsoncitizen.com

The fifth season of the Tucson Summer Pro League winds down this weekend with five playoff basketball games set to determine the champion.

Former University of Arizona player and Tucson Summer Pro League founder Corey Williams said the talent level is as good as ever in the league that allows for the blending of pro, collegiate and high school basketball talent.

The playoffs will be at the Northwest Center, 2160 N. Sixth Ave.

Friday features a pair of quarterfinal games that tip off at 6 p.m.

In the opener, Cienega High graduate Jamier Morris gets a chance to show off his point guard skills for his Window Depot team when it takes on Desert Toyota. The team also boasts Mark Fresby (Amphi) and Dionte Gill (Catalina).

For Desert Toyota, 6-foot-6 Justin Lloyd and recent Salpointe graduate Chase Adams lead the way. Adams is scoring 16 points per game in the league.

The 7 p.m. quarterfinal game pits Coffee Point vs. Magpies Pizza.

Coffee Point is led by brothers P.J. and Will Wilkens (Sierra Vista Buena), Anthony Michaels (Amphi) and point guard Courtney Templeton.

Magpies Pizza is led by Michael Henderson (16.7 points per game), Palo Verde graduate Michael Biancuzzo and veteran shooting guard Andre McDowell.

Friday’s winners take on Powerade and the Moore Law Firm teams at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Powerade is led by Donte Williams, who Corey Williams said is one of the best in the league each year, and Marcus Campbell.

Moore Law Firm is led by former college player Corey Starks and Palo Verde High graduate J.J. Sicilian.

The championship game is at 4 p.m. Sunday; at 2 p.m., there will be a 3-point contest and a slam dunk contest at 3 p.m.

USA TODAY

Winning hasn’t made former Arizona Wildcat Natalie Gulbis soft. It has made her angry.

A year removed from ending a six-year, 0-for-151 drought by earning her first LPGA win at the Evian Masters in France, a dearth of success that led people to start comparing her to former tennis star Anna Kournikova, Gulbis is back defending her title fervently, looking for her second victory on the spectacular course that overlooks Lake Geneva.

She played well the rest of 2007, nearly winning the $1 million jackpot at the season-ending ADT Championship and being a member of the victorious U.S. squad in the Solheim Cup and a winner in the Wendy’s Challenge with Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel. Still, her game has been wayward this season.

The 25-year-old will be on a 0-for-22 streak as she returns to defend her title this week.

This year she’s missed five of 16 cuts and has a season-best tie for 11th. Not exactly the success Gulbis and her coach, Butch Harmon, thought would have once she got her first win.

“I had dreamed of winning an LPGA event for a long time, and the win superseded anything I could have imagined,” Gulbis said. “I couldn’t hold my head up most of the time during the ceremony because I was crying so much. It was about me achieving my goal more than anything.

“But I am definitely very frustrated that I have not won an individual tournament since. I feel the same way that Butch did, that more wins would come after the first one. I am working just as hard to get win No. 2.”

Victory No. 1 came in a one-hole playoff against South Korea’s Jeong Jang, when Gulbis two-putted from 25 feet for birdie after Jang missed the green long and failed to get up-and-down. The tap-in for Gulbis shed the label that she was only a glamour girl known more for her calendars and reality show than for her talent on the golf course.

For Gulbis to make a successful defense this week, however, she’ll have to top a strong field that includes ex-Wildcat Lorena Ochoa, ex-Wildcat Annika Sorenstam, Paula Creamer, Suzann Pettersen and every one of the rest of the top 10 in the world.

The winners of the three majors in 2008 – Ochoa, LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng and U.S. Women’s Open winner Inbee Park – also are playing.

But Gulbis feels her best golf is coming as she heads into a stretch that will include the Women’s British Open and the Canadian Open. Last year she gave part of the credit for her win to a back injury two months prior that forced her to take a month off and change her swing.

“Last year I was in a similar position with my game heading to the Evian Masters because I was hurt,” Gulbis said. “This year I am healthy and I’m really looking forward to being in France.

“I want another win.”