Clark’s First PGA Win Qualifies as Very Special

Michael Clark became the PGA Tour’s sixth first-time winner this season when he rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole Monday to defeat veteran Kirk Triplett in the rain-delayed John Deere Classic at Silvis, Ill.

Clark earned a two-year exemption and $468,000. His previous best finish was a tie for 13th at the Compaq Classic in New Orleans.

In a final round suspended Sunday because of heavy rain, Clark shot a four-under 67, but Triplett birdied the final hole of regulation to tie in a tournament-record 19-under 265. Triplett had a final-round 70.

Charles Howell, who turned pro after winning the NCAA championship at Oklahoma State, had a 66 and finished one stroke out of the playoff. He earned $176,800, boosting his yearly earnings high enough to earn a special tour exemption.

*

With his book still spurring controversy, Mark James’ role as a vice captain in the next Ryder Cup will be discussed today by Europe’s cup committee.

James has been criticized for his book, “Into the Bear Pit,” which chronicles his year as captain and includes criticism of Nick Faldo, Tony Jacklin and the American team’s behavior during its comeback to win the cup last September.

Neil Coles, who will preside over the meeting Tuesday, said he did not think James would lose his position.

Olympics

Athletes could be tested for EPO during the Sydney Olympics even if the International Olympic Committee fails to approve a test for the banned drug this week.

EPO, or erythropoietin, boosts the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells. It is believed to be heavily used in endurance events such as cycling and distance running, where experts say it can improve performance by as much as 15%.

Even if a test is approved just before, during or near the end of the Sept. 15-Oct. 1 Sydney Games, the IOC would be entitled to use it, Patrick Schamasch, the IOC’s medical director, said.

Schamasch spoke in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the start of a two-day meeting of a 15-member panel composed of the IOC medical commission and outside experts.

The nine finalists for the U.S. Equestrian team were announced, the same day 12 horses left their quarantine in Louisville, Ky. on a long flight to Sydney.

Extra horses were needed because of the potential for injury while they train during the long quarantine in Australia.

The only Olympic veterans on the list of finalists were husband and wife David and Karen O’Connor of The Plains, Va. They were members of the 1996 team that won a silver medal in Atlanta.

The other riders on the finalists list were: Abigail Lufkin of Middleburg, Va.; Robert Costello of Southern Pines, N.C.; Becky Douglas of Lansing, Kan.; Julie Black of Newnan, Ga.; Nina Fout of Middleburg, Va.; Linda Weisman of Bluemont, Va.; and Buck Davidson of Unionville, Pa.

Boston Marathon champion Elijah Lagat is back on Kenya’s team for the Olympics.

He replaces Ondoro Osoro, who was shot in the neck on July 23 by carjackers, a day after he had qualified for the team.

A few days after snow dusted the outskirts of Sydney, the weather forecast was much brighter for Olympic organizers seven weeks before the start of the Summer Games.

Meteorologists said the demise of La Nina, which brought near-record rainfall and severe flooding to parts of Australia the last two years, has increased the possibility of dry weather during the Olympics.

Olympic officials had feared a third consecutive year of unusually heavy rain would disrupt the September Games.

Jurisprudence

World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Johnny Tapia and another man were charged in Alamagordo, N.M., with misdemeanors in connection with a June 27 shooting incident.

Tapia faces an assault charge stemming from an altercation with another motorist.

The district attorney’s office said the motorist, Allan Korzan of Ruidoso, faces a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Tapia, a four-time world champion, was driving near Ruidoso when he was allegedly confronted by Korzan. Tapia’s wife and manager, Teresa, said the other motorist fired two shots at her husband.

The boxer’s wife and three others, including a 5-month-old girl, were also in the car.

Former NBA guard Sedale Threatt pleaded guilty in federal court in Phoenix to a misdemeanor charge of failing to pay child support. Threatt, 38, will receive five years’ probation and 100 hours of community service as part of a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office, said spokeswoman Cathy Colbert. He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 28.

Threatt faces separate state child support charges in Massachusetts.

Miscellany

The NCAA has ruled 6-foot-9 Jaime Lloreda, a native of Panama, ineligible to play for the University of Colorado basketball team in the upcoming season. The NCAA’s Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse said courses Lloreda took in his native country did not meet the organization’s core-course requirements.

Georgia suspended seven football players for one game each for using a school long-distance code to make personal phone calls.