Francella wins in a playoff

Meaghan Francella made a four-foot birdie putt and beat Annika Sorenstam on the fourth hole of a playoff Monday at Huixquilucan, Mexico, to win the rain-delayed MasterCard Classic for her first victory on the LPGA Tour.

Francella began the day with a one-stroke lead. She needed a birdie at No. 16 to reclaim a share of the lead and force the playoff with Sorenstam, who had bogeyed the hole earlier.

“Words can’t describe how I feel right now,” Francella said. “Annika is the best player in the world. I was a little intimidated, but I just tried to stay patient. I didn’t want her to intimidate me.”

Sorenstam, making her first start of the year, had seven birdies and a bogey. “I’m very happy with the way I played today. I shot six under,” she said.

Angela Stanford (67), Kyeong Bae (67) and Stacy Prammanasudh (71) tied for third at eight under.

SOCCER

U.S. women advance

to Algarve Cup final

Abby Wambach scored two goals and Carli Lloyd got her fourth of the tournament, leading the United States over Sweden, 3-2, at Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal, for a place in the Algarve Cup final. The U.S will play Denmark in Wednesday’s championship match.

Also announced Monday, the U.S. will play China and Brazil in warmup matches before heading to the Women’s World Cup. The U.S. will play China on June 16 in Cleveland and Brazil seven days later at East Rutherford, N.J. The Women’s World Cup is scheduled for Sept. 10-30 in China.

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien signed a five-year contract that will keep him with Chelsea through 2012.

JURISPRUDENCE

Track coach Korchemny accepts a lifetime ban

Track coach Remi Korchemny agreed to permanently stay out of elite-level coaching, marking the first time a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency case has led to a coach being banished for doping violations.

USADA brought charges against the 74-year-old last November, accusing him of violating doping rules. He’s best known as the coach for sprinters Kelli White and Dwain Chambers, both of whom tested positive for banned substances and subsequently were suspended.

Korchemny, sentenced to probation in the BALCO case for supplying modafinil, essentially was retired before agreeing not to participate with any organization that recognizes the World Anti-Doping Code.

A former Northern Colorado backup punter accused of stabbing the starter pleaded not guilty at Greeley, Colo., to charges of attempted murder and assault.

Mitch Cozad’s trial is scheduled for July 30. He remains free on $500,000 bail. If convicted, he could face up to 48 years in prison.

MISCELLANY

Olympic swim medalist de Bruijn retires

Four-time Olympic swimming champion Inge de Bruijn retired, saying there were “no more challenges” left in the pool.

The 33-year-old Dutch swimmer completed her career with eight Olympic medals and five world championships.

Lance Mackey maintained his lead in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race -- but only by minutes.

Mackey was the first musher to arrive in Koyuk, Alaska, taking about a three-hour rest.

He and his 13 dogs left Koyuk at 12:13 p.m., 14 minutes before Paul Gebhardt arrived.

Five-time boxing world champion Johnny Tapia was hospitalized in Albuquerque in critical condition after an apparent cocaine overdose.

The Arizona Cardinals fired Richie Anderson, their new wide receivers coach, four days after his arrest in a Phoenix police prostitution sting operation.

Cal State Los Angeles is ranked No. 1 in the nation in NCAA Division II by Collegiate Baseball after improving to 19-1-1 with a four-game sweep of previous No. 1 Chico State last weekend.

Replacing one former Dallas Cowboys star with another, ESPN announced the hiring of Emmitt Smith as an NFL studio analyst. Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, said Smith’s role on its Sunday morning and Monday night pregame shows would closely match the one previously held by Michael Irvin, whose contract was not renewed.

*

-- Larry Stewart

PASSINGS

Allin, former pro who

enjoyed teaching more

Bud Allin, a Vietnam War veteran who won five times on the PGA Tour and found his greatest joy as a golf instructor, has died at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He was 62. Story, Section B.

Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd, who played on championship professional football teams before finding more lucrative success in pro wrestling, has died at Grambling, La. He was 68.

Ladd played in the American Football League and is a member of the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame. He died Saturday because of cancer.