Ai Miyazato wins, earns top spot

Japan’s Ai Miyazato shot a seven-under-par 64 Sunday to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Galloway Township, N.J.

The 25-year-old Miyazato is guaranteed to take over the No. 1 spot in Monday’s rankings after her fourth victory of the season.

Second-round leader M.J. Hur finished second, two shots behind Miyazato. Fellow South Korean Inbee Park, the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open champion, was two shots behind Hur.

Suzann Pettersen of Norway, Hee-Won Han of South Korea and Katherine Hull of Australia shared fourth place at 11 under, one shot ahead of Paula Creamer, who had a spectacular return in her first tournament since surgery on her left thumb in March.

Miyazato opened the final round two shots back and needed only three holes to grab a share of the lead. She finished with seven birdies in a bogey-free round that gave her a 54-hole total of 16-under 197.

Chris Kirk shot a six-under 64 in the final round to win the Fort Smith (Ark.) Classic.

Kirk finished with a 16-under 264 at the 6,783-yard Hardscrabble Country Club course. He made par on each of his final three holes to win his first tournament as a professional and take over the top spot on the Nationwide Tour’s money list. He also secured a spot on the PGA Tour next year.

Arkansan John Daly (69) finished tied for 22nd at eight under in his first Nationwide event since 1991.

MOTOR RACING

Tony Kanaan takes the Iowa 250

Tony Kanaan overtook Helio Castroneves with 10 laps left and held on to win the Iowa 250, erasing three years of frustration at Iowa Speedway in Newton.

It was the first win since 2008 for Kanaan, who last took the checkered flag in Richmond, Va., two years ago. Kanaan had crashed in each of his first three starts at Iowa, but he zipped past Castroneves on Lap 240 and cruised to victory.

Castroneves finished second and E.J. Viso was a career-best third. Penske teammates Ryan Briscoe and pole winner Will Power rounded out the top five.

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John Force regained the points lead with his NHRA-record 130th win in the Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn.

The other winners at the 12th race in the 23-race Full Throttle Series season were Tony Schumacher (top fuel) and Mike Edwards (pro stock).

ETC.

Raymond Parks, 96, NASCAR pioneer

Raymond Parks, owner of NASCAR’s first championship winning car and an integral part of the series’ formation, died at 96.

NASCAR said Parks died Sunday morning at his home in Atlanta.

Parks was the last living member of the group of men who created NASCAR in 1947 during a meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla.

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Lance Armstrong wrapped up his Tour de France preparations on a high note, finishing second in the Tour of Switzerland, 12 seconds behind Frank Schleck of Luxembourg.

The seven-time Tour de France champion was seventh overall entering the stage but surged into contention by placing 11th in the 16.6-mile time trial around Liestal, finishing in 33 minutes 30 seconds to trail stage winner Tony Martin of Germany by 1:09.

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Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace signed a multiyear contract extension.