Day to defend title in Shootout
NAPLES - Australia's top-ranked Jason Day and American Cameron Tringale will defend their title at the 27th Franklin Templeton Shootout in December, World Golf Hall of Fame host Greg Norman said. The field of 24 players was revealed for the December 10-12 event but pairings were not announced, except to say that Day and Tringale would defend the wire-to-wire crown they won by one stroke last year over 2013 champions Harris English and Matt Kuchar. The lineup includes Day and six other top-30 players in the world rankings, including Americans Kuchar, Zach Johnson, JB Holmes, Patrick Reed, Billy Horschel and Brandt Snedeker. New Zealand's Danny Lee will be among five first-time players, a group also including Americans Daniel Berger, Charley Hoffman, Hunter Mahan and Patrick Rodgers.–AFP

Schmitz gets Internet backing for Masters
WASHINGTON - Sammy Schmitz, who won a spot in next year's Masters by capturing the US Mid-Amateur crown, will have enough money to train and make the most of his dream opportunity. The 35-year-old American, a health care firm's regional director, aced a 290-yard par-4 hole to capture the title earlier this month in Vero Beach, Florida. The victory qualified Schmitz for next Masters, but without the money to make the trip next April realistic for the World Number 3,724. Schmitz's wife Natalie sought help and with Sam's help created a GoFundMe page, hoping to raise some money to help finance travel. After only three days, the couple had received $25,000 in donations and ended the fundraising effort, stunned by how much support they had received and how quickly it had come–AFP

Jerome confirms FIFA presidency bid
LAUSANNE - Former French diplomat Jerome Champagne on Friday officially entered the running to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of football's scandal-hit governing body FIFA. "I have submitted my candidacy and have the support of five member states (of FIFA)," the 57-year-old Champagne said. The former deputy general secretary of FIFA is the fourth official candidate for the election, which is scheduled to take place on February 26. His confirmed rivals are UEFA chief Michel Platini, Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan and former Trinidad and Tobago captain David Nahkid, although others are known to be mulling a bid ahead of Monday's deadline. The election to replace Blatter, who has been FIFA president since 1998 and who is standing down, comes at a time of crisis within world football's governing body.–AFP

Cricket Center Club win T20 title
LAHORE - Cricket Center Club have defeated Model Town Greens Cricket Club by 71 runs in final of Goga Naqeebia T20 Cricket Tournament here at the Model Town Greens Cricket Ground. Cricket Center, batting first, scored 182 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. M Waheed hit 65 runs while Raza Ali Dar added 34, Umer Akmal 21 and Shuja Haider 20. Adil Sharif claimed 3-34, Nadeem Raza 3-30 and Hassan Dar 1-23. In reply, Model Town Greens could manage to score 111-10 in 15.5 overs. Saadullah Ghouri scored 38 runs while Danyal Sheikh added 30 and Salman Butt 13 runs. Raza Ali Dar grabbed 3-25 while Adnan Rasool bagged 3-15 and M Waheed 2-16. LRCA secretary M Shoaib Dar was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony and distributed prizes among winner and runner-up teams.–Staff Reporter

Black Horse win Beginners Polo Cup
LAHORE – Black Horse Paints defeated Terra Energy to win the Beginners Polo Cup final held here at the Lahore Polo Club ground on Saturday. The low-goal event, which was the opening event of this polo season, saw a thrilling clash between Black Horse Paints and Terra Energy which the former won by a close margin of 5-4. Terra Energy started the match with one-goal handicap advantage but it were Black Horse players who dominated the first chukker scoring two goals to make it 2-1. Terra Energy bounced back in second chukker and slammed two tremendous goals to finish the chukker with 3-2 lead. The third chukker witnessed one goal from Black Horse to make it 3-3 while in the fourth chukker, both the teams scored one goal to finish the match 4-4 and brought it to the fifth and deciding chukker where Black Horse players stamped their authority and hit one to finish as the winners. Maj Humayun remained top scorer for the winners with his superb two goals.–Staff Reporter