Irwin Beats Norman at Heritage

Hale Irwin, who made bogeys on three of the first six holes, recovered to shoot a three-under-par 68 for a record-setting victory Sunday at the Heritage Classic at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Irwin, 48, finished with an 18-under 266 at Harbour Town Golf Links, two strokes ahead of Greg Norman. Irwin broke Payne Stewart’s record of 268 in 1989.

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Val Skinner birdied five holes and closed with a four-under-par 68 to win the LPGA Women’s Championship by one stroke over Liselotte Neumann at Stockbridge, Ga. Skinner completed the three rounds in 10-under 206.

Tennis

Alberto Berasategui of Spain upset Jim Courier, 6-4, 6-2, to win the Nice Open in France after both were forced to play semifinal matches Sunday morning because of a Saturday rain delay. . . . Top-seeded Michael Chang beat Australian Patrick Rafter, 6-1, 6-3, to win the Salem Open at Hong Kong.

Distance Running

Dionicio Ceron of Mexico pulled away from the field three miles from the finish to win the London Marathon in 2 hours 8 minutes 53 seconds for his fourth consecutive marathon victory. Katrin Dorre of Germany won the women’s race, becoming the first to win it three times in a row. An unidentified 52-year-old runner collapsed and died during the 19-mile stage of the race in central London. . . . Vincent Rousseau of Belgium won the Rotterdam Marathon with a personal best of 2:07:51. In the women’s race, Miyoko Asahina of Japan won in 2:25:52.

Beach Volleyball

Karolyn Kirby of San Diego became the winningest player in Coors Light Women’s Pro Beach Volleyball by teaming with Liz Masakayan of San Diego to win a tour event at Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. Kirby and Masakayan defeated Gail Castro of Carlsbad and Elaine Roque of Malibu, 15-4, in the final. It was Kirby’s 42nd victory in eight years on the tour.

Miscellany

Some of the 16 members of Haiti’s national soccer team plan to request political asylum in Trinidad and Tobago today. After failing to obtain asylum from the United States, the players said they wanted to return home. But after meeting twice with Guy Prim, a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, some intend to submit requests for asylum in the Caribbean island.

Denying allegations that he provided a term paper to a player, but saying it was “in the best interest of everyone concerned,” Baylor assistant coach Troy Drummond announced his resignation. . . . Shane Stant, 22, and his uncle, Derrick Smith, 29, who both admitted to their roles in the attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan Jan. 6 in Detroit, say they are filing complaints against Phoenix attorney Frederick Merrill, who handled money they received from a tabloid television show. . . . The Times’ Mike Downey was third in column writing and Gene Wojciechowski was fourth in event coverage in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. The Times was selected as one of the top 10 daily sections for papers with a circulation more than 175,000.

Names in the News

Laker forward Antonio Harvey will undergo more tests today to determine the cause of an irregular heartbeat that forced him from Saturday’s game against the Clippers at the Sports Arena. He will be put on the injured list and guard Reggie Jordan will be activated. . . . Outside linebacker Seth Joyner rejoined former Philadelphia Eagles Coach Buddy Ryan by signing a $14-million contract with the Arizona Cardinals. . . . The Boston Celtics have decided not to sign Todd Lichti for the rest of the season and have activated Matt Wenstrom from the injured list.