Golfers finish fifth at Northern Iowa

The SIUC men’s golf team finished fifth out of 13 teams at the 24th annual University of Northern Iowa Classic in Marion, Iowa, Saturday.

The Salukis opened the tournament with rounds of 314 and 315 Friday and finished with a 311 Saturday for a total of 940, their best showing of the season. Host Northern Iowa took the top spot with a three-round score of 918.

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John Raski led the Salukis with a sixth-place finish after firing a 229. Kory Neisen and Craig Castrale each finished at 240 in a tie for 28th place.

Padres’ Joyner, Caminiti undergo surgery

San Diego Padres first baseman Wally Joyner and third baseman Ken Caminiti underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Saturday. Team officials believe both will recover in time for the start of spring training.

Joyner and Caminiti each had suffered slight tears in their right patella tendons. Earlier in the week, the Padres had exercised their option on Joyner’s contract for the 1998 season.

He finished with a career-high .327 batting average this past season to place fifth in the National League. The 12-year veteran added 29 doubles, 13 home runs and 83 RBI in just 135 games.

Caminiti, the 1996 National League MVP, battled numerous injuries in 1997 and finished with a .290 batting average, 26 homers and 90 runs driven in.

Lewis pounds Golota to defend title

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Lennox Lewis retained his WBC heavyweight title by scoring an easy first-round technical knockout of Poland’s Andrew Golota in Atlantic City Saturday night.

Golota was sent to the canvas twice in the opening round, and referee Joe Cortez called a halt to the bout just one minute and 35 seconds into the action. The victory, easily the biggest of Lewis’ career, moved him to 32-1 with 26 knockouts. Golota, who had been disqualified because of low blows in his previous two fights with former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, fell to 28-3.

After the loss, Golota collapsed in the locker room, went into a seizure and was taken to a local hospital, where he remained overnight for observation. At last report, Golota was conscious and in stable condition.

Langer wins German Masters

Hometown favorite Bernhard Langer captured the German Masters by six shots over Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie. Langer shot a final-round, 2-under-par 70 and finished the four-day event at 21-under-par 267.

Langer, who helped Europe retain the Ryder Cup last week, carried a seven-shot lead into Sunday’s play after firing a record 12-under-par 60 Saturday. It was his third victory at this event, as he also won in 1989 and 1991.

Langer earned $210,500 for his fourth victory of the year and the 38th of his career on the European Tour. The prize money brought Langer’s yearly total in Europe to $915,604. Montgomerie leads in winnings with $988,456, and carded a 4-under 68 in the final round.