Schumacher’s Victory Puts Title Within Reach

Michael Schumacher all but clinched his second consecutive Formula One championship when he won the European Grand Prix with some daring driving in tough conditions Sunday at Nuerburgring, Germany.

Cheered on by 90,000 fans, the German ace squeezed his Benetton-Renault past long-leading Jean Alesi in a Ferrari with about two laps left.

The bold overhaul maneuver probably brought Schumacher his second Formula One title. The two cars briefly touched as Schumacher slipped by on the outside.

Schumacher, 26, collected 10 points for his victory and now holds a 27-point lead over Damon Hill of Britain with three races left in the season.

Hill spun out with his Williams-Renault with eight laps left in the 67-lap race over the 2.822-mile circuit.

Schumacher averaged 109.908 m.p.h. Alesi was second, 2.6 seconds behind. David Coulthard, who started on the pole, in his Williams-Renault car, finished third, 35.3 seconds behind.

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Scott Kalitta, Cruz Pedregon, Steve Schmidt and John Myers won titles at the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan. Kalitta won in Top Fuel, Pedregon in Funny Car, Schmidt in Pro Stock and Myers in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the 17th event in the 1995 Winston Drag Racing Series.

Golf

Fred Funk won his second PGA Tour title of the year, closing with a five-foot birdie putt for a one-stroke victory over Loren Roberts and John Morse in the Buick Challenge at Pine Mountain, Ga.

Funk, who shot a five-under-par 67 for a 16-under 272 total on Callaway Gardens’ Mountain View Course, hit his six-iron approach from 156 yards past the pin and made the winning putt after Morse missed a 16-foot birdie bid.

Hale Irwin broke away with five consecutive birdies on the front nine to win the $1.5-million Vantage Championship at Clemmons, N.C., with a closing seven-under-par 65.

The three-time U.S. Open champion and Senior PGA Tour rookie came into the day tied at 10-under with leading money winner Dave Stockton. But he took command on Nos. 3-7 in winning the $225,000 top prize in one of the richest events on the tour with a 17-under 199.

Gail Graham won the LPGA Fieldcrest Cannon Classic at Cornelius, N.C., for her first career title, finishing with a 10-foot birdie putt for a two-stroke victory over Tammie Green.

Graham, a 29-year-old Canadian in her sixth season on the tour, shot her second consecutive three-under 69 to tie the LPGA’s best 72-hole score of the year with a 15-under 273 total on The Peninsula Club course.

Bernhard Langer eagled the 18th hole to force a playoff, then rolled in a 22-foot putt at the second extra hole to defeat Barry Lane and win the European Open at Dublin, Ireland.

College Football

Ohio State moved up two spots into a fifth-place tie with USC, and Penn State fell out of the Top 10 in the Associated Press college football poll.

Florida State, Nebraska, Florida and Colorado remained the top four in the nationwide media poll.

Rounding out the Top 10 were Michigan, Texas A&M;, Virginia and Tennessee.

Police made 47 arrests early Sunday and used tear gas to break up unruly crowds in Columbus, Ohio, celebrating Ohio State’s football victory over Notre Dame. Those arrested in the campus-area disturbance were charged with disorderly conduct, rioting or resisting arrest.

Names in the News

Anke Huber of Germany won the Leipzig WTA tournament in Leipzig, Germany without swinging a racket as Bulgaria’s Magdalena Maleeva withdrew before the final because of stomach problems. . . . Francisco Clavet rallied to defeat fellow Spaniard Jordi Burillo, 6-7 (7-2), 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), and win the Kim Top Line International tournament in Palermo, Sicily. . . . Diego Maradona said “this was my best comeback to the playing fields” after his Boca Juniors team defeated South Korea, 2-1, at Seoul on Saturday. The star of the 1986 World Cup champions returned after a 15-month suspension for doping. . . . Eric Cantona made a successful return to soccer after an eight-month suspension for attacking a fan by setting up a goal with his second touch of the ball, then scoring on a penalty kick for Manchester United in a 2-2 tie against Liverpool at Manchester, England.