Russ Cochran wins first major title

Russ Cochran won the Senior British Open by two shots Sunday, holding off fellow Americans Mark Calcavecchia and the fast-finishing Tom Watson to capture his first major title at Walton on the Hill, England.

The 52-year-old Cochran claimed the winner’s check of $310,000 after making six birdies in a nerveless five-under-par 67 in his final round at Walton Heath, closing at 12 under.

It was Cochran’s third victory on the Champions Tour but his first this season.

Calcavecchia had shared the overnight lead with Cochran and South Africa’s David Frost but finished runner-up and was left to regret four-putting from 15 feet on the par-three No. 9 for a double bogey.

Looking for a record fourth Senior British Open title, Watson was tied for third with compatriot Corey Pavin (69) at nine under after a 67.

Sean O’Hair won the RBC Canadian Open at Vancouver after tapping in for a bogey on the first playoff hole, and then watching fellow American Kris Blanks lip out his bogey putt from just over five feet.

O’Hair started the day three shots behind leader Bo Van Pelt before shooting 68 to get into the playoff with Blanks (70) at four-under 276.

Ai Miyazato clinched her first title of the year at the Evian Masters and pledged to share her prize money with the people still suffering in the aftermath of the disasters back home in Japan.

Miyazato shot a two-under 70 to protect her two-shot lead and hold off a surge from American Stacy Lewis at Evian-les-Bains, France.

Miyazato finished with a 15-under total of 273. Lewis also shot a 70 to finish two shots back.

ETC.

UCLA gets key commitment

UCLA received a commitment Sunday from Dominic Artis, a 6-foot-1 senior at Las Vegas Findlay Prep who is considered one of the top point guard prospects in the country.

Artis becomes the second player to give the Bruins a commitment, joining Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy small forward Jordan Adams.

—Ben Bolch

Australia’s Will Power held off a hard-charging Helio Castroneves to win the Edmonton Indy in Canada and narrow the gap on points leader Dario Franchitti.

Power started second, overtook pole-sitter and leader Takuma Sato a quarter of the way through the race, then held off his Team Penske teammate to win by eight-tenths of a second.

Franchitti finished third, 1.2 seconds off the pace in the 80-lap race.

Lewis Hamilton of McLaren won a hard-fought German Grand Prix at Nuerburgring, fending off challenges from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber of Red Bull for his second victory of the season.

Alonso finished 3.9 seconds back in second place, with Webber 9.7 seconds behind in third.

Spencer Massey edged teammate Tony Schumacher in the final elimination round to win the top-fuel dragster division at the Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.

Massey hit 269.67 mph and covered the 1,000-foot straight-line course in 4.150 seconds in his nitro-fueled dragster for his fifth career victory.

John Force took the funny car division, coasting to victory after Matt Hagan drew a red light infraction for leaving a split-second early. Force finished the 1,000-foot course in 4.361 seconds and at a speed of 285.23 mph. It was his 133rd career victory.

Mike Edwards won in pro stock, covering the quarter-mile course in 6.970 seconds, going 197.65 mph.

Mike Edwards’ Allen Johnson

The U.S. men’s water polo team routed Canada, 17-4, to reach the quarterfinals at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai. The U.S. now plays Hungary on Tuesday (11 p.m. Monday, Pacific time).

Stacy May-Johnson hit a grand slam in a 10-run fourth inning, and the United States advanced to the World Cup of Softball championship game by beating Britain, 10-0, at Oklahoma City. The U.S. will face 2008 Olympic gold medalist Japan on Monday night.

Mardy Fish John Isner

Vera Zvonareva Ksenia Pervak