IN BRIEF

MOTOR SPORTS

Kyle Busch's Nationwide title coronation delayed

Carl Edwards rolled to a dominating win at Phoenix International Speedway in Avondale, Ariz., temporarily staving off Kyle Busch's bid to clinch the Nationwide Series title.

Busch's first NASCAR championship is still a near-certainty -- he's up 190 points over Edwards and only needs to start next week's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to grab the title.

But early problems Saturday spoiled Busch's bid to get it out of the way. He spun his Toyota eight laps into the race, suffered heavy damage when he hit the wall and had to battle to a ninth-place finish.

Also: Robert Hight wrapped up his first Funny Car championship, qualifying third in the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., to take an insurmountable 106-point lead over teammate Ashley Force Hood.

In Pro Stock, Mike Edwards also clinched his first season title.

In the dramatic Top Fuel race, Tony Schumacher had the second-quickest pass in category history, a 3.772-second run at 320.58 mph to take a two-point lead into today's final eliminations.

GOLF

McNeill rallies, falters, shares Disney World lead

George McNeill closed with a double-bogey to share the lead with three others entering today's final round of the Children's Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

McNeill shot 3-under 69 at Disney World that left him tied at 13-under 203 with Justin Leonard (71), Justin Rose (69) and Mathias Gronberg (66).

Also: Michelle Wie took a share of the lead in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico, shooting 2-under 70 to match Cristie Kerr at 10-under 134. Kerr shot 67.

Second-round leader Jiyai Shin (74) was a stroke back along with Paula Creamer (71) and first-round leader Song-Hee Kim (70).

Joe Sawaia shot 4-under 68 at Boulder Creek Golf Club to lead the Scratch Division of the Clark County Amateur by one shot over Brady Exber and two shots over of A.J. McInerney.

In the Net Division, Chris Boyer shot 63 for a six-stroke lead over Paudie O'Connor, who finished with a 69.

The 36-hole tournament, the final Southern Nevada Golf Association major of 2009, concludes today.

MISCELLANEOUS

Kinasewich's hat trick overwhelms Wranglers

Ryan Kinasewich posted a hat trick, with his three goals coming in separate periods, as the Utah Grizzlies routed the Wranglers 8-3 in an ECHL game in West Valley City, Utah.

Francis Lemieux had two of the Wranglers' three goals.

Also: Novak Djokovic overpowered Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-3 to reach the Paris Masters final for the first time.

The Serb will face Gael Monfils of France today. Monfils advanced with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over Radek Stepanek.

Marek Hamsik converted a penalty kick in the 26th minute, and Slovakia defeated the United States 1-0 in a World Cup warmup in Bratislava.

Samantha Richard posted her sixth double-double of the season with 28 assists and 14 digs as the UNLV volleyball team beat Texas Christian 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 26-24) in a Mountain West Conference match at Cox Pavilion.

Kelsey Keeler had 13 kills for the Rebels (8-15, 5-9 MWC).

UNLV's women's cross country team placed 23rd at the NCAA West Regional in Eugene, Ore.

Lauren Peterson was the Rebels' top finisher on the 6-kilometer course, coming in 95th with a time of 23 minutes, 12.91 seconds.