IN BRIEF (Page 24)
Soccer
Arsenal set to sign Croatia striker Da Silva
LONDON: Arsenal have agreed terms with Dinamo Zagreb to sign Croatia's Brazilian-born striker Eduardo Da Silva on a four-year contract, the Premier League club said yesterday.
Dinamo's fee for the move, which is subject to a medical and comes a week after France striker Thierry Henry completed his transfer from Arsenal to Barcelona, was not disclosed.
Croatian media put the fee at 24 million euros ($32.60 million), exactly the sum Arsenal agreed with Barcelona for their former captain Henry.
Dinamo Zagreb sport director Zoran Mamic said he could not disclose the figure, but said it was a record offer that the club could not turn down.
"This is the biggest ever transfer in Croatian soccer, inluding the period of the former Yugoslavia," he said.
Golf
Birdie at the finish brings Bateman first PGA crown
GRAND BLANC, Michigan: Brian Bateman, an American in his sixth US PGA season, finally captured his first tour title here Sunday, sinking a birdie on the final hole to win the $4.9 million Buick Open.
Bateman's final round of three-under par 69 left him on 15-under 273 after 72 holes, one stroke ahead of compatriots Justin Leonard, Jason Gore and Woody Austin. Leonard and Gore each fired final-round 67s while Austin had a 69.
Bateman birdied the fifth and sveenth holes to stay within reach, suffered his only bogey at the eighth but bounced back with birdies at 14 and 18 to avoid a four-man playoff and take the title.
Storm whips up French Open win
VERSAILLES, France: Graeme Storm chalked up the maiden win of his professional career at the French Open on Sunday leaving Colin Montgomerie to once again count the cost of his poor putting.
The 29-year-old Englishman produced a fine closing round of five-under 66 to overhaul a five stroke deficit on joint overnight leaders Soren Hansen of Denmark and Simon Khan of England.
Hansen took second place, one stroke back from the winning seven-under total of 277, after a final 72 with Dane Thomas Bjorn (69), Damien McGrane of Ireland (65), Khan (72) and Montgomerie (70) having to settle for a share of third.
Baseball
Hargrove quits as Mariners manager
SEATTLE, Washington: Seattle Mariners manager Mike Hargrove resigned here on Sunday, saying his passion for guiding the Major League Baseball club has faded despite turning the losers into a winning team.
Hargrove managed the Mariners in their game Sunday against Toronto after announcing it would be his farewell with the American League club, which began the day with a seven-game win streak.
The Mariners, who suffered losing seasons in each of the past three years, were 44-33 and only four games behind the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West division when Hargrove announced his departure.
Motor Sports
Hamlin holds off Gordon for first win of season
NEW YORK: Denny Hamlin won his first NASCAR race of the season when he held off Jeff Gordon at Loudon, New Hampshire, on Sunday.
Hamlin gambled by taking on two tyres instead of four during a late pit stop to get the jump on Martin Truex Jr., Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hamlin then held off points leader Gordon for his first victory in 33 races.
"I was trying not to make a mistake on those final laps," Hamlin told reporters. "We finally got a win."
(China Daily 07/03/2007 page24)
