IN BRIEF
GOLF
Sorenstam shares early lead in Sybase Classic
Two days after announcing this would be her final season on the LPGA Tour, Annika Sorenstam shot a 5-under-par 67 Thursday for a share of the first-round lead in the Sybase Classic in Clifton, N.J.
South Korea's Song-Hee Kim and Australia's Rachel Hetherington also were at 67.
Two-time defending champion Lorena Ochoa was a stroke back with Pat Hurst, Catriona Matthew, Brittany Lang, Teresa Lu and Carolina Llano.
Also: Kenny Perry endured a steady rain to claim a share of the first-round lead with a 6-under 66 at the AT&T Classic in Duluth, Ga.
The other leaders -- Jonathan Kaye, Ryan Palmer, Jonathan Byrd and Parker McLachlin -- teed off in the morning, before a huge weather system engulfed the suburban Atlanta course.
Australia's Richard Green and India's Jeev Milka Singh shot 6-under 66s to share the first-round lead at the Irish Open in Adare, Ireland.
TENNIS
Sharapova wins, will take over No. 1 ranking
Maria Sharapova beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 7-6 (3), advancing to the Italian Open quarterfinals in Rome along with sisters Serena and Venus Williams.
Sharapova, 25-2 this year, will assume the No. 1 ranking Monday because of Justine Henin's retirement.
The 25-year-old Henin, who retired Wednesday, asked to be removed from the rankings, the WTA Tour said.
Also: Rafael Nadal beat Andy Murray in straight sets to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the Hamburg (Germany) Masters.
MISCELLANEOUS
UNLV men's golf tied for 11th at NCAA regional
The UNLV men's golf team shot 13-over-par 301 to tie for 11th place in the first round of the NCAA West Regional in Bremerton, Wash.
The Rebels were led by senior Matt Kinsinger, who shot 1-over 73 to tie for 19th place in the individual standings.
Oregon took the team lead by shooting 1-over 289, and the Ducks' Joey Benedetti had the individual lead at 3-under 69.
Also: The UNLV baseball team lost 10-1 to Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Xavier Scruggs supplied the only run for the Rebels (20-34, 8-14 Mountain West) with his conference-leading 20th home run of the season.
Scruggs is the first UNLV player to hit at least 20 homers since Kevin Lofthus had a school-record 26 in 1989.
California-based TYR Sport filed a federal lawsuit this week alleging that rival Speedo, manufacturer of the record-breaking "LZR Racer," has conspired with USA Swimming to stifle competition and lure top athletes from other companies.
TYR claims Warnaco Swimwear, the parent company of Speedo, has violated antitrust laws by conspiring with USA Swimming and U.S. coach Mark Schubert to promote the benefits of wearing the LZR suit at the Beijing Olympics.
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno spent several hours at a State College, Pa., hospital being treated for dehydration before returning home.
The 81-year-old coach had been working at home late in the morning when he began feeling nauseated and was taken by ambulance to Mount Nittany Medical Center, team spokesman Guido D'Elia said.
Defensive tackle Rob Meier, who is replacing three-time Pro Bowl player Marcus Stroud in the Jacksonville Jaguars' starting lineup this season, signed a four-year contract extension.
The Washington Redskins released former Pro Bowl kick returner Jerome Mathis and signed undrafted rookie defensive end J.T. Mapu.
The U.S. women's soccer team will play Brazil, its conqueror in last year's World Cup, in two exhibition games this summer.
The teams will meet July 13 in Commerce City, Colo., and July 16 in San Diego as a final buildup to the Beijing Olympics.
