Briefs
Barbasol postponed
A thunderstorm has suspended the fourth round of the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship until Monday morning.
Sunday’s third stoppage of play at Champions Trace at Keene Trace Golf Club came with the four leaders – Hunter Mahan, Robert Streb Tom Lovelady and Troy Merritt at 18-under par – and four other contenders waiting to begin the round.
The tournament will resume at 7:30 a.m. on Monday. Lightning caused one delay, and play was stopped earlier in the afternoon to clear water that accumulated on the course following a morning of steady and sometimes-heavy rain.
Washington native Steve Wheatcroft made the most of the four holes he played Sunday evening. The Trinity graduate had three birdies and moved to a tie for ninth place at 16 under for the tournament.
Vikings’ Sparano dies unexpectedly
The Minnesota Vikings say offensive line coach Tony Sparano has died at the age of 56.
The Vikings say Sparano died early Sunday but did not give a cause of death. He had been the Vikings’ offensive line coach since 2016.
Sparano began his NFL coaching career in 1999 and had stints as a head coach with the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders.
He was the Dolphins’ head coach from 2008-11 and went 29-32. He went 11-5 and won the AFC East in his first season with the Dolphins.
Sparano also spent time with the Browns, Redskins, Jaguars, Cowboys and 49ers.
Giants sign Barkley
The New York Giants have signed rookie first-round pick running back Saquon Barkley to a contract.
The No. 2 overall selection from Penn State rushed for 3,843 yards and 43 touchdowns and caught 102 passes, eight for scores, in three seasons with the Nittany Lions. He had 5,538 total yards on 791 touches for averages of 7.0 yards per play and 145.7 yards per game.
Barkley joins four draft choices who had previously signed: guard Will Hernandez of UTEP (second round), outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter of Georgia (third round), defensive tackle B.J. Hill of North Carolina State (third round), and quarterback Kyle Lauletta of Richmond (fourth round).
Defensive tackle RJ McIntosh, a fifth-rounder, also signed later in the day, completing the team’s draft class.
Coach Pat Shurmur will hold his first practice Monday with the team’s rookies, quarterbacks and selected veterans.
Mets’ Syndergaard placed on DL
In the latest bizarre medical development for the baffling New York Mets, ace pitcher Noah Syndergaard is headed back to the 10-day disabled list after contracting hand, foot and mouth disease.
The team believes it’s likely Syndergaard caught the contagious virus when he made an appearance at a baseball camp for kids during the All-Star break last week. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that probably explains why Syndergaard weakened and his velocity decreased during Friday night’s victory at Yankee Stadium.
Syndergaard just returned from the DL on July 13 after sitting out more than six weeks with a strained ligament in his right index finger. Callaway and assistant general manager John Ricco say it’s possible the right-hander will miss only one turn in the rotation this time while allowing the virus to run its course.
The news comes two days after a startling health revelation from slugger Yoenis Cespedes, who said he might need surgery on both heels that would require an eight-to-10-month recovery.