Morning State Sports Briefs: Stricker, Wilson struggled in opening round of PGA

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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. - Wisconsin’s two players at the PGA Championship struggled during their first rounds yesterday.

Steve Stricker of Madison is tied for 88th after shooting a two-over-par 74 in Kiawah Island South Carolina. And Pewaukee native Mark Wilson is at four-over-76, in a tie for 121st. Stricker was counting on a good showing at the PGA to try-and-secure a guaranteed spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team this fall. But he and Wilson are both in danger of missing the weekend cut, which has been set at one-over for now. Carl Pettersson is the first-round leader at six-under-66.

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Former UW-Stevens Point star Jordan Zimmermann won his sixth straight decision for the Washington Nationals last night in a 5-0 win at Houston. The right-hander from Auburndale tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts, as he gave up just three hits without a walk in six scoreless innings. Zimmermann, the National League’s pitcher-of-the-month for July, is now 9-6 on the year.

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Marquette University has reported a possible rules violation to the NCAA involving the men’s basketball program. In a statement yesterday, athletic director Larry Williams would not give details. He said his department learned about a possible violation, and reported it. Williams the school is now in a joint review of the matter with the NCAA. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says it appears to involve a secondary recruiting violation, which is not considered to be serious.

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Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Carlos Delfino and his Olympic men’s basketball team from Argentina will take on the U.S. this afternoon in the semi-finals in London. The Americans crushed Argentina in pool play on Monday, 126-97, pulling away in the third quarter. But the U.S. just barely got by the Argentines in an exhibition last month, winning by only six. And Argentina – with Delfino and NBA players Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola – has given the Americans fits in the past. Argentina beat the U.S. en route to the gold medal in 2004, while the Americans came back to win the gold in ’08. U.S. forward Carmelo Anthony expects Argentina to bring their best game today – and his team will have to be ready. Delfino has been averaging 15 points a game for Argentina during the London Games.

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Both Wisconsin teams in the American Legion national baseball regionals lost their opening games yesterday. The Madison Impact lost to Pickerington of Ohio 2-0. And Ash Port of Green Bay was shut out by Terre Haute Indiana 3-0. Both games were part of the Midland Michigan regional. Madison and Ash Port both play again today, and will be eliminated if they lose.

Tags: wisconsin sports, sports, proam, marquette, bucks