Sports briefs for November 19, 2004

Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 | 10:03 a.m.

Tiger stays in front in Dunlop tournament

Tiger Woods shot a 3-under-par 67 today to stay three strokes ahead of his nearest challenger after the second round of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament on the Japanese Golf Tour in Miyazaki.

Woods, 5-under after Thursday's first round, made four birdies at Miyazaki's Phoenix Country Club and dropped a shot at the 16th hole for his first bogey in 34 holes. He is 8-under par for the tournament to stay ahead of local player and 2002 champion Kaname Yokoo.

"I thought I played well today," said Woods. "But I didn't get the ball into the hole with my putting. That's why my score didn't get lower. But still, I have my scores as about the same as yesterday and I'm satisfied."

Conditions were easier after Thursday's rain, said Woods, who is seeking his second tournament title of the year and first in stroke-play format.

The best round of the day was by Christian Pena, who shot a 7-under-par 63 to rise to third place at 4-under for the tournament. British Open champion Todd Hamilton continued to struggle, combining his two birdies with four bogeys and two double-bogeys to shoot a 76 and retreat to 9-over for the event.

Atlanta seeks bowl

The Atlanta Sports Council, host of the Peach Bowl, wants to create a second postseason game to be played in the Georgia Dome that would tentatively match teams from the Atlantic Coast and Big Ten conferences, perhaps as soon as next season.

Koreans may unite

South Korean officials said today their nation may consider forming a unified team with North Korea for the 2006 World Cup. The two Korean nations have marched together but competed separately in such international events as the Olympics and Asian Games.

Turin on track

Organizers of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, said today that the games are on track despite a $242 million budget shortfall and a police investigation into possible fixing of construction contracts.

Vancouver race off

The Molson Indy Vancouver race was canceled by Molson Sports. The race on a downtown city street course had been a fixture on the Champ Car schedule for 15 years.

Soviet star dies

Alexander Ragulin, a defenseman on the great Soviet teams of the 1960s and 1970s and a three-time Olympic champion, died at 63 in Moscow. No cause of death was reported.