Strong Finish Gives Els Dunhill Championship

Ernie Els won the Dunhill Championship in his second start since tearing ligaments in his left knee in July, closing with a four-under-par 68 on Sunday for three-stroke victory at Nelspruit, South Africa.

The South African had a 14-under 274 total on the Leopard Creek course for his third victory in the event and 22nd career European tour title. “Everyday I put ice on my knee and take anti-inflammatories,” Els said. “If it gets worse, I’m not going to risk playing next week. If it gets better, I will definitely play.”

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen each shot 70 to tie for second.

Robert Allenby became the first player to win the Australian Open, PGA and Masters in the same season, beating American Bubba Watson with a par on the first hole of a playoff in the Australian Masters at Melbourne.

COLLEGES

Colorado Athletes Are

Cited for Harassment

A Colorado football player has been suspended and his girlfriend, a cross-country runner, has quit the sports program after being accused of sending a racist e-mail to a Latino member of the cross-country team.

The e-mail included a reference to dragging the man behind a car, recalling an incident in 1998 in Texas when a black man was dragged to his death. The two athletes were cited for harassment and ethnic intimidation. A news release from Athletic Director Mike Bohn announced the suspension of offensive tackle Clint O’Neal and Jackie Zeigle’s decision to leave the cross-country and track teams, but did not mention the e-mail.

A police report said O’Neal and Zeigle, who are both white, sent the typo-filled message to Greg Castro. The message called Castro a “river rat” and “border hopper.”

Meanwhile, in football, Tulsa Coach Steve Kragthorpe said is not interested in replacing Gary Barnett as coach at Colorado.

BASEBALL

Dodgers Express

Interest in Clemens

The Dodgers have notified the agents for Roger Clemens, 43, that they would be interested in the seven-time Cy Young Award winner should he decide to pitch again. General Manager Ned Colletti spoke to Randy and Alan Hendricks after the Houston Astros declined to offer salary arbitration to Clemens last week. Clemens cannot re-sign with the Astros until May 1.

The Boston Red Sox, Clemens’ original team, and the New York Yankees, among others, also contacted Clemens’ agents.

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-- Tim Brown

SOCCER

Maryland Hangs On

to Win NCAA Title

Marc Burch’s deflected free kick gave Maryland (19-4-2) a 1-0 win over New Mexico (18-2-3) in the NCAA championship game at Cary, N.C., ending three years of frustration in which the Terrapins lost in the semifinals.

New Mexico had a penalty kick minutes before halftime, but Maryland goalkeeper Chris Seitz stopped Andrew Boyens’ shot.

Another 250,000 tickets for the 2006 World Cup in Germany will be available on the Internet through a lottery system starting today. Applications can be made on the Internet at www.FIFAworldcup.com through Jan. 15. The lottery will be held Jan. 31.

AWARDS

USC Is a Big Winner

at Sports Council Dinner

USC football was the big winner at the Los Angeles Sports Council’s Greatest Moments in Sports Award dinner Sunday night at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Century City.

The Trojans’ victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl last January was named L.A.’s greatest sports moment of 2005.

Reggie Bush’s winning the Heisman Trophy on Saturday was second on the list of greatest moments, and quarterback Matt Leinart was named sportsman of the year.

No. 3 on the list of greatest moments was the Angels’ Bartolo Colon’s winning the American League Cy Young Award. Other award winners were the beach volleyball team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh as sportswomen of the year and Angel owner Arte Moreno as executive of the year.

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-- Larry Stewart

Linebacker DeMeco Ryans of Alabama, the Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year, was announced as the winner of the second annual Lott Trophy at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach.

In its second year, the Lott Trophy honors college football’s impact player of the year on defense on and off the field.

HORSE RACING

Star Parade Pulls Away

to Win the Bayakoa

Star Parade, the 4-1 second choice under jockey Martin Pedroza, drew away from favored Dream Of Summer in the final eighth of a mile to win the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The victory ended a nine-race losing streak for the 6-year-old Parade Marshal mare, who is owned by Gary Tanaka and trained by Darrell Vienna. She ran the 1 1/16 miles in the Grade II in 1:41.96. It was the seventh win in 27 starts for the Argentine-bred mare and her third in six starts on the Hollywood Park main track.

Only one favorite was successful in the pick six, so there will be a carry-over of $135,696 when racing resumes Thursday.

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-- Bob Mieszerski

FIGURE SKATING

Kwan Skates Well

at Event in Boston

With the Turin Olympics looming, five-time world champion Michelle Kwan appears to be recovering nicely from her hip injury. Kwan won the women’s event at the Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating Challenge at Boston.

Fans determined the winner by voting in the stands and via phone and Internet, and Kwan won overwhelmingly, earning 59% of the vote in the finals to beat Sasha Cohen.