Local Sports

Kelly takes early lead in Akron

AKRON — Jerry Kelly put himself in familiar position Thursday at Firestone Country Club. The two-time tournament champion fired a 5-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Kaulig Companies Championship, the third of five senior majors on the PGA Tour Champions schedule. Kelly, who won the event in 2020 and 2022 at Firestone, carded rounds of 34 and 31 on the South Course to finish one stroke ahead of Darren Clarke and Mike Weir, who each shot 66. Kelly, 59, is seeking his 14th career PGA Tour Champions victory and his first of the 2026 season. Ranked ...

SPORTS BRIEFING

CLIPPERS TO PLAY IN HOOSIER GYM COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana boys basketball team will play Springfield Local on Dec. 29 in the gym where the 1986 film 'Hoosiers' was filmed. The gym is located in Knightstown, Indiana serves as a museum to the film while actively hosting high school basketball games throughout the year. The East Palestine and Western Reserve boys basketball teams played a game in the gym in 2025. PULISIC BROKE LEG U.S. star Christian Pulisic fractured his right leg during the Americans' World Cup loss to Belgium and will be sidelined for several ...

KAULIG COMPANIES CHAMPIONSHIP

SPORTS BRIEFING

SOCCER EXCITEMENT (AP) — The match between England and Mexico in the round of 16 has become the most-watched World Cup game not involving the U.S. broadcast in English in the country's history, according to Fox. The network said Wednesday an average of more than 21.7 million tuned in to watch England's 3-2 victory in Mexico City on Sunday night. That tops the previous record of the final between Argentina and France in 2022, which was seen by 16.7 million. Fox said the audience peaked at more than 25.7 million from 10:15-10:30 p.m. Eastern time. The U.S.-Belgium game the ...

Mitchell in Cleveland to stay

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell has agreed to a four-year, $273 million contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the extension had not been announced. ...

KAULIG COMPANIES CHAMPIONSHIP

PGA Tour Champions Site: Akron, Ohio. Course: Firestone Country Club (South Course). Yardage: 7,248. Par: 70. Prize money: $3.5 million. Winner's share: $525,000. Television: Thursday-Friday, 1-2 p.m. (Golf Channel app), 2-4 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. (Golf ...