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Lloyd Wins USBWA Coaching Award

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INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff Report from Official USBWA News release) – Arizona first-year head coach Tommy Lloyd led the Wildcats to the Pac-12 Conference championship and a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. For his smashing debut guiding Arizona to 33 wins and into the Sweet 16, Lloyd has been named the winner of the 2021-22 Henry Iba Award, given annually by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to its national coach of the year.

Lloyd, who will formally receive the award at the upcoming USBWA College Basketball Awards Banquet in St. Louis on April 11 hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club, is the first Arizona coach to earn the honor and the first from the Pac-12 since Tony Bennett at Washington State in 2007. He’s only the fifth Pac-12 coach to earn the Henry Iba Award, joining UCLA legend John Wooden (a six-time winner in 1964, ’67, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73), Pete Newell (California, 1960) and Ralph Miller (Oregon State, 1981).

Arizona (33-4) ascended to several success marks during Lloyd’s first season in Tucson. The Wildcats finished the season 17-0 at home, the 13th time they have finished a season undefeated in the 49-year history of the McKale Center. Arizona’s 19-game home win streak is the longest active streak in the Pac-12 and the third-longest in Division I heading into next season. The ‘Cats won nine road games for the first time since 2016-17 and were 7-0 in neutral site games.

Lloyd is the ninth first-time head coach in NCAA history to win 30 games in year one and joined UCLA’s Gary Cunningham (1977-78) as the only first-time head coaches in the Pac-12 to win 25 of their first 27 games. Lloyd is alone as the only Pac-12 coach to start 15-1 or better in conference play. Arizona’s 18-2 Pac-12 record that won the conference by a three-game margin over runner-up UCLA is also the best-ever for a first-year coach in conference.

Lloyd, 46, joins Bill Guthridge (North Carolina in 1998) and Bill Hodges (Indiana State in 1979) as the only head coaches to earn a No. 1 seed in their first season as head coach. The 33 wins – Arizona fell to Houston in last weekend’s Sweet 16 – are tied for third-most in program history and left Lloyd one shy of tying Guthridge for the most by a first-time head coach in NCAA history.

The style of play Lloyd brought to Arizona also produced record marks in various statistical categories. UA led the nation in total assists (714), assists per game (19.8) and total rebounds (1,496). The ‘Cats scored 80 or more points 28 times and were undefeated in those games. School records for assists (714) and blocked shots (207) fell. In its final win against TCU in the NCAA’s second round, Arizona scored 52 points in the paint, the 25th game this year for it to score 40-plus paint points – the most by any Pac-12 team in the last 15 seasons.

Arizona produced a second-team USBWA All-America selection in sophomore guard Bennedict Mathurin, also the Pac-12 Player of the Year. The conference’s John R. Wooden Coach of the Year, Lloyd also coached the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year (center Christian Koloko), Most Improved Player of the Year (Koloko) and Sixth Man of the Year (Pelle Larsson). Koloko, Mathurin and forward Azuolas Tubelis earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors and Kokolo and guard Dalen Terry were on the All-Defensive Team.

Also of note is in his first semester as head coach last fall, Arizona’s men’s team posted a team GPA of 3.04, the best team GPA for a semester in the history of the program with 11 players having a 3.0 or better.

Lloyd was an assistant coach at Gonzaga for 20 seasons before coming to Arizona. At Gonzaga he helped to develop 19 All-Americans and 15 conference players of the year and contributed to five straight 30-win seasons and two appearances in the national championship game.

The Henry Iba Award is named in honor of the legendary coaching great at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) who won two NCAA championships and two gold medals and one silver as coach of the U S. Olympic teams. Iba held the dual position of basketball coach and athletic director until he retired in 1970. He was elected to the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Missouri Hall of Fame, the Helms Foundation All-Time Hall of Fame for basketball, and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield, Mass. Henry Iba passed away in 1993 in Stillwater, Okla.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485. For additional info about covering the awards banquet, contact Jim Wilson with the MAC (314-539-4488).

ALL-TIME USBWA NATIONAL COACHES OF THE YEAR
1958-59    Eddie Hickey, Marquette (Independent)
1959-60    Pete Newell, California (AAWU)
1960-61    Fred Taylor, Ohio State (Big Ten)
1961-62    Fred Taylor, Ohio State (Big Ten)
1962-63    Ed Jucker, Cincinnati (Missouri Valley)
1963-64    John Wooden, UCLA (AAWU)
1964-65    Butch Van Breda Kolff, Princeton (Ivy League)
1965-66    Adolph Rupp, Kentucky (SEC)
1966-67    John Wooden, UCLA (AAWU)
1967-68    Guy Lewis, Houston (Independent)
1968-69    Maury John, Drake (Missouri Valley)
1969-70    John Wooden, UCLA (Pac-8)
1970-71    John Wooden, UCLA (Pac-8)
1971-72    John Wooden, UCLA (Pac-8)
1972-73    John Wooden, UCLA (Pac-8)
1973-74    Norm Sloan, N.C. State (ACC)
1974-75    Bob Knight, Indiana (Big Ten)
1975-76    Johnny Orr, Michigan (Big Ten)
1976-77    Eddie Sutton, Arkansas (Southwest)
1977-78    Ray Meyer, DePaul (Independent)
1978-79    Dean Smith, North Carolina (ACC)
1979-80    Ray Meyer, DePaul (Independent)
1980-81    Ralph Miller, Oregon State (Pac-10)
1981-82    John Thompson, Georgetown (Big East)
1982-83    Lou Carnesecca, St. John’s (Big East)
1983-84    Gene Keady, Purdue (Big Ten)
1984-85    Lou Carnesecca, St. John’s (Big East)
1985-86    Dick Versace, Bradley (Missouri Valley)
1986-87    John Chaney, Temple (Atlantic 10)
1987-88    John Chaney, Temple (Atlantic 10)
1988-89    Bob Knight, Indiana (Big Ten)
1989-90    Roy Williams, Kansas (Big 8)
1990-91    Randy Ayers, Ohio State (Big Ten)
1991-92    Perry Clark, Tulane (Metro)
1992-93    Eddie Fogler, Vanderbilt (SEC)
1993-94    Charlie Spoonhour, Saint Louis (Great Midwest)
1994-95    Kelvin Sampson, Oklahoma (Big 8)
1995-96    Gene Keady, Purdue (Big Ten)
1996-97    Clem Haskins, Minnesota (Big Ten)
1997-98    Tom Izzo, Michigan State (Big Ten)
1998-99    Cliff Ellis, Auburn (SEC)
1999-00    Larry Eustacy, Iowa State (Big 12)
2000-01    Al Skinner, Boston College (Big East)
2001-02    Ben Howland, Pittsburgh (Big East)
2002-03    Tubby Smith, Kentucky (SEC)
2003-04    Phil Martelli, St. Joseph’s (Atlantic 10)
2004-05    Bruce Weber, Illinois (Big Ten)
2005-06    Roy Williams, North Carolina (ACC)
2006-07    Tony Bennett, Washington State (Pac-10)
2007-08    Keno Davis, Drake (Missouri Valley)
2008-09    Bill Self, Kansas (Big 12)
2009-10    Jim Boeheim, Syracuse (Big East)
2010-11    Mike Brey, Notre Dame (Big East)
2011-12    Frank Haith, Missouri (Big 12)
2012-13    Jim Larrañaga, Miami, Fla. (ACC)
2013-14    Gregg Marshall, Wichita State (Missouri Valley)
2014-15    Tony Bennett, Virginia (ACC)
2015-16    Chris Mack, Xavier (Big East)
2016-17    Mark Few, Gonzaga (West Coast)
2017-18    Tony Bennett, Virginia (ACC)
2018-19    Rick Barnes, Tennessee (SEC)
2019-20    Anthony Grant, Dayton (Atlantic 10)
2020-21    Juwan Howard, Michigan (Big Ten)
2021-22    Tommy Lloyd, Arizona (Pac-12)

BIG EAST: Villanova Reppin’ Again

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SAN ANTONIO – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – For the third time since 2016, Villanova will play in the Final Four. The Wildcats became the NCAA South Region champions after a 50-44 victory over Houston this past Saturday in Texas. Villanova forward Jermaine Samuels was named the South Region Most Outstanding Player. Coach Jay Wright’s second-seeded team defeated Michigan 63-55 in the regional semifinals.

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Villanova will meet Kansas in the national semifinals this Saturday. On their way to the NCAA crown in 2018, the Wildcats beat the Jayhawks 95-79 in the same round. Villanova got off to a 22-4 start en route to the victory. Back in 2016, Villanova beat Kansas 64-59 in the South Region final.

Overall, BIG EAST teams own a 12-6 record in national semifinal contests not including when a BIG EAST team faced another league squad in 1985 and 1987. Villanova is 3-1, winning in 1985, 2016 and 2018 while losing in 2009.

Villanova will be without All-Big East guard Justin Moore in their Final Four lineup. Moore fell to the floor with a non-contact leg injury late in Saturday’s Elite Eight win over Houston. On Sunday, he was diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon. Villanova announced that he’s scheduled for surgery this week and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Sc-HOT-tie Scheffler Takes Match Play

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AUSTIN – Scottie Scheffler won the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, defeating Kevin Kisner in the Championship Match, 4 and 3. Scheffler earned his third career PGA Tour victory, with the first two coming on February 13 (42 days ago) and March 6 (21 days ago). With the victory, Scheffler moves to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career and extends his lead in the FedExCup standings to 780 points

Corey Conners finishes third with a 3-and-1 victory over Dustin Johnson in the Consolation Match. When he won his Quarterfinal match, Conners became the first Canadian in tournament history to advance to the Semifinals.

Johnson (4th) earned his second Top-10 in his last three starts on Tour (T-9 at The PLAYERS Championship).

Finals and Consolation Match Scores

Championship Match

Scottie Scheffler (5) def. Kevin Kisner (29), 4 and 3

Consolation Match

Corey Conners (36) def. Dustin Johnson (8), 3 and 1

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Chad Ramey won the Corales Puntacana Championship by one stroke, earning his first PGA Tour victory in his 16th career start. Ramey became the first rookie to win on Tour since Garrick Higgo at the 2021 Palmetto Championship at Congaree.

The 29-year-old Ramey became the youngest winner of the Corales Puntacana Championship

PGA Tour rookie Alex Smalley earned his career-best finish (T-2) in only his third event.

After holding the lead in each of the first three rounds this week, Ben Marin finished a stroke back and as a co-runner-up along with Smalley.

Corales Puntacana: Final Leaderboard

Chad Ramey – 70-65-69-67—271 (-17)

Alex Smalley – 69-65-73-65—272 (-16)

Ben Martin – 66-66-70-70—272 (-16)

Jhonattan Vegas – 70-70-65-68—273 (-15)

Cameron Percy – 71-68-67-67—273 (-15)

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Madness!

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By TERRY LYONS

NEW YORK – When the BIG EAST tournament crowned Villanova as conference champion at Madison Square Garden on March 12 and the Atlantic Coast Conference folded-up its tent the same evening as Virginia Tech upset Duke at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, the only New York connection to March Madness was Colgate, winners of the Patriot League.

For its efforts, the Hamilton, NY-based school was sent to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and quickly dispatched by Wisconsin in a Midwest Regional opener. As of March 18th, the only New York-based connection to the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament were a few remaining games of the West Regional first and second round being played in Buffalo, home of the Bills, great chicken wings and fond memories of the Buffalo Braves NBA franchise.

 

Tri-State basketball fans might’ve connected to the tournament via UConn (Storrs, CT) or Seton Hall (South Orange, NJ) or even little Saint Peter’s College of Jersey City, NJ, just eight miles from The Garden via a quick tube ride from Herald Square to Journal Square.

Little did we know that the No. 15 seeded Peacocks, coached by former Seton Hall guard Shaheen Holloway, would become the Cinderella Story of March Madness of 2022. St. Peter’s on Friday became the only No. 15 to advance to the “Elite Eight.” as previous 15s (Oral Roberts and Florida Gulf Coast both folded in the Round of 16. It’s a great, heartwarming story, a story made for March Madness as little Saint Pete, winners of the MAAC conference, habitants of the Run Baby Run Arena on Kennedy Boulevard and home to 2,600 undergrads and 600 graduate students, were winners over big, bad and blue blood Kentucky (85-79, OT on March 1700, pesky Murray State (70-60 on March 19), and then after advancing to the NCAAs “Sweet 16” to play highly-touted, Big 10 bad-asses Purdue (67-64 on March 25).

But, make no mistake about it, that’s a Jersey basketball story, not NYC.

There is one great New York City basketball connection in this year’s on-going March Madness and it is University of Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larrañaga. The 72-year old coaching legend grew-up in the Bronx, one of six children. He attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens where he starred on the basketball varsity under a legend-maker in the late Jack Curran. Larrañaga graduated from Molloy in 1967 and went on to play basketball at Providence College where he became the basketball team’s captain as a senior, 1970–71, leading Providence College to a 20–8 record and an NIT appearance when the NIT was as big-time as Peter Gabriel.

Larrañaga’s story gets cooler than that! His grandfather was born in Cuba of Basque parents, and was part of the Por Larrañaga cigar company. Jim’s son is a legend in the making, in LA Clippers’ assistant coach Jay Larrañaga, the former assistant in Boston who has a coaching resume ranging from Calabria, Milano and Rome,. Italy to Real Madrid, Spain to Ireland and even the Ukraine, where he assisted Mike Fratello in Ukraine’s bid to qualify for the Olympic Games. Winning runs in the family and that brings us back to the University of Miami’s climb to the Elite Eight in this year’s NCAAs.

While all the Cinderella Story attention was (rightfully) focused on Saint Peter’s, the “U” kept chugging along, knocking off No. 7 USC in the first round then soundly defeating No. 2 Auburn (79-61) in the second round. The Sweet 16 match-up saw No. 10 Miami whoop No. 11 Iowa State, 70-56, which brings them to Sunday’s (today) tough game against No. 1 Kansas for the right to go to the NCAA Final Four.

Don’t be surprised, though, as you might recall Jim Larrañaga and George Mason’s run to the Final Four in 2006 when the coach was just a 56-year old puppy. Since his hiring at Miami in 2011, it’s been nothing but winning in the ultra-tough Atlantic Coast Conference. He now stands as the first coach in the history of college basketball to take two programs who were double digit seeds in the NCAA Tournament — Miami and George Mason — to the Elite Eight.

Much like his pro counterparts, the Miami Heat in the NBA Year of the Bubble (2020), the “U” hovers around in the pack but is a dangerous draw once the postseason rolls around. The Heat came out of the No. 5 slot of the 2020 NBA Playoffs whereas the “U” held to the No. 4 slot in the ACC (14-6), but only two games off the lead.

While basketball fans focus on the upset special of Saint Peter’s as they go up against North Carolina, remember to spend a little time watching Jim Larrañaga and the Miami Hurricanes, New York’s best story in college basketball in the year 2022. Larrañaga will be the guy coaxing his players, cajoling the refs, as his team hangs around, ready for another win. He’ll play his five starters in the high 35+ minutes per game and maybe go to his bench for two or three players to give a foul.

In the end, Larrañaga wins. The University of Miami wins (for hiring him and recently extending his contract) and the sport of basketball wins, even if it’s not at a New York college looking in at the NCAAs from the outside once again.

Celtics: Fund Raiser #Move4Heather

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#MOVE4HEATHER – Those connected to the Boston Celtics, the New England sports scene and the NBA’s extended Public Relations family are circling April 11 on their calendars for a night to help Celtics VP Heather Walker and her family as Ms. Walker fights a very tough battle against an opponent no NBAers wish to face. In July, 2021, Walker was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare brain cancer.

Upon the news of the diagnosis, Walker and her inner circle of family and friends, created the #Move4Heather Challenge to support the Heather Walker Glioblastoma Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Boston-area hospital where she is being treated. All proceeds will directly benefit Dr. David Reardon’s glioblastoma research.

The April 11th function at West End Johnnies, a full-sized restaurant and bar one block from TD Garden and a place Heather Walker regularly organized team functions for the USO and military families to pick-up tickets donated by Celtics’ season ticket holders, will now be raising money to assist in the clinical trials Walker has been undergoing since the summer.

There will be all kinds of auction items from the National and New England sports franchises but also just some time to get reacquainted with friends to celebrate life in the Year 2022.

WGC Dell Tech Match Play: Round of 16

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AUSTIN – The World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Playtees-off this morning for the “Round of 16” where it’s now “One and Done” in true Match Play style. By this afternoon, the tournament will be down to its “Elite Eight’ a.k.a “the quarterfinals. in other words, we’re in for a full day of golf at the Austin Country Club.

The highlight of the morning matches just might be the rematch of the 2021 Championship Match between Billy Horschel and Scottie Scheffler.

Some Fun Facts: Eight of the 16 groups were won by the top seed, tying the most since the group-play format was introduced in 2015. … Three of the four past champions at Austin Country Club in this week’s field advanced to the Round of 16 (Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Kevin Kisner). … Horschelbecame the second defending champion to advance past group play since 2015.

Round of 16 Matches

8:35 a.m. – Scottie Scheffler (5) vs. Billy Horschel (12)

8:46 a.m. – Tyrrell Hatton (13) vs. Seamus Power (42)

8:57 a.m. – Dustin Johnson (8) vs. Richard Bland (54)

9:08 a.m. – Jon Rahm (1) vs. Brooks Koepka (16)

9:19 a.m. – Kevin Kisner (29) vs. Adam Scott (32)

9:30 a.m. – Will Zalatoris (24) vs. Kevin Na (25)

9:41 a.m. – Corey Conners (36) vs. Takumi Kanaya (56)

9:52 a.m. – Collin Morikawa (2) vs. Abraham Ancer (15)

(All times are ET)

After this morning’s “Round of 16,” the Quarterfinals are scheduled for this afternoon. Sunday morning is the Semifinals and Sunday afternoon is the Championship and Consolation (3rd Place) Match.

Heading Towards a “Sweet 16” at WGC

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AUSTIN – The World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play preliminary rounds began Wednesday and conclude today. After today’s rounds at the Austin Country Club, 16 players will move on to compete in the “Round of 16” starting Saturday morning.

Paul Casey (back spasms) played two holes Wednesday and conceded his match to Corey Conners. Casey warmed-up for Thursday’s match and the back issues continued, so he forfeited to Alex Noren. Casey has withdrawn from the tournament.

After today’s final preliminary round, play will continue Saturday morning with the “Round of 16” and then the Quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning is the Semifinals and Sunday afternoon is the Championship and Consolation (3rd Place) Match.

Main Event: WGC Dell Technologies Match Play

COURSE: Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas

ARCHITECT: Pete Dye

YARDS/PAR: 7,108 yards/Par 71

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $12,000,000/$2,100,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Billy Horschel

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 550

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @DellMatchPlay

The Basics:

Tournament website: Dell Technologies Match Play Championships

WGC Match Play Tee Times – Dell Tech Match Play Tee Times start today with matches beginning at 10:10am (ET) and go to 2:15pm (ET).

Weather: Today’s forecast in Austin, Texas is for sunny skies and 59-84 degree temperatures as day progresses. There’s a 0% chance of rain. Winds only 4-5 mph. Sunny skies for all weekend.

WGC Dell Technologies Match Play

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AUSTIN – From 64 to 32. That’s the way Match Play at Bracket-ville works. But, it’s NOT one and done like the college basketball game. It’s a series of three matches and best record survives and advances. The World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play preliminary round stage began Thursday and continues today and tomorrow.

The theme of Thursday’s Match Play? A slow stream of UPSETS but when the final tally was complete, higher seeds managed to win at a 20-10-2 clip over their lower-seeded opponents. The top five seeds are undefeated (4-0-1) with the highest-seeded player to lose first match being No. 6 Justin Thomas losing to Luke List, 3 and 2.

Eleven players making their WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play tournament debut combined for a 5-5-1 record. Wins were had by: Lucas Herbert, Maverick McNealy, Seamus Power, Harold Varner III, and Cameron Young.

Kevin Kisner broke a tie with Matt Kuchar for most matches won since the event moved to Austin Country Club in 2016 (17) while defending champion Billy Horschel opened with a 3-and-2 victory over Min Woo Lee.

Paul Casey conceded his match against Corey Conners (thru 2 holes) due to back spasms. It was the first match conceded at the event since Kevin Chappell conceded a match against Ian Poulter in 2018 (third match of group play). Casey still has scheduled matches vs. Alex Noren and Louis Oosthuizen, a tough road back.

After Friday’s final preliminary round, Saturday morning will be the ‘Round of 16” and Saturday afternoon will move-on to the Quarterfinals. Sunday morning is the Semifinals and Sunday afternoon is the Championship and Consolation (3rd Place) Match.

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Meanwhile, the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic teed-off this morning at 6:45am (ET) and tee-times go to 1:09pm (ET).

In the Dominican Republic: Puerto Rico native and local favorite Rafael Campos will be making his fifth start at the Corales Puntacana and second of the season (T-59/Puerto Rico Open). Last season, Campos posted two Top-3 results on Tour in a 29-day span with T-3 at 2021 Puerto Rico Open and T-2 at 2021 Corales Puntacana Championship.

Joel Dahmen earned first Tour title at 2021 Corales Puntacana Championship and seeks to become the event’s first repeat winner. He’s qualified for the FedEx Cup playoffs the last four consecutive seasons and enters the week after a T-39 at the Valspar Championship.

Red Sox Ink Story – Officially

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – A week after news broke of the acquisition, the Boston Red Sox officially signed infielder Trevor Story to a six-year contract through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028. To make room for Story on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated outfielder Jeisson Rosario for assignment.

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Story, 29, was named a National League All-Star in 2018 and 2019, winning the Silver Slugger Award at shortstop in each season. He finished in the top 12 in NL Most Valuable Player voting in three consecutive years from 2018-20, including a career-best eighth in 2018. In 745 games for the Colorado Rockies (2016-21), the right-handed hitter has batted .272 (768-for-2,822) with 158 home runs, 450 RBI, 100 stolen bases, and an .863 OPS. Among active major leaguers with at least 500 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, he ranks first in slugging percentage (.621) and third in OPS (1.002) while batting .308 (242-for-786).

In 142 games for the Rockies last season, Story batted .251 (132-for-526) with an .801 OPS, 24 home runs, 75 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. The Texas native has hit at least 20 home runs in each of his five 162-game seasons and stolen at least 20 bases three times. He is one of only two players to hit at least 20 home runs and steal at least 20 bases in each of the last three 162-game seasons (2018-19, ’21), joining Cleveland’s José Ramírez. In 2018, he became the first shortstop in major league history to record at least 40 doubles, 30 home runs, and 25 stolen bases in a season. Story joins Alex Rodriguez as the only shortstops ever to hit at least 30 home runs and steal 20 bases in multiple seasons.

Originally selected by the Rockies in first round (45th overall) of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Irving (TX) High School, Story totaled six home runs in his first four major league games in 2016 and went on to finish fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. According to FanGraphs, his 69 defensive runs saved from 2016-21 ranked third among major leaguers at shortstop, trailing only Andrelton Simmons (99) and Nick Ahmed (73). In five career Postseason games, Story is 7-for-22 (.318) with two doubles and one home run.

WGC Dell Tech Match Play/Corales Puntacana Golf

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AUSTIN – How about some EXTRA golf this weekend with the World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play starting today and the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic tomorrow?

In Texas, with tee-off in less than an hour from this posting, Kevin Kisnerand Matt Kuchar have each won 16 matches since the tournament moved to Austin Country Club in 2016, tied for the most of any player in that span. Kisner, the 2019 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play champion, is the No. 29 seed and is grouped with Justin Thomas, Marc Leishman and Luke List.

Matt Kuchar not in field this week.

Sergio Garcia (28-22-1) has played in 51 matches, the most in tournament history, and is the 43rd seed (Group 2).In the Dominican Republic, This event marks the first of a four-year extension for the Dominican Republic’s only PGA Tour event. The event was played twice in the 2020-21 PGA Tour Season after the 2020 tournament was postponed to September due to COVID-19, marking the first of three events to be contested twice in 2020-21.

All of the past winners at the Corales Puntacana Championship, including both champions when the event was played on the Korn Ferry Tour(Dominic Bozzelli in 2016, and Nate Lashley in 2017 are back at Corales Golf Course in search of a second victory in the event.

Among the highlights of the field this weekend, the 2020 Corales Puntacana Championship winner Hudson Swafford is the only player in the field that has won on the PGA Tour this season (The American Express). He can become the fifth multiple winner of the season with a victory. If Swafford wins (or another player that has won this season wins the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play), it would be the fourth consecutive week on Tour with a champion that had already won this season.