Sports
Tom Kim, J.J. Spaun among 6 co-leaders at Charles Schwab
May 28, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Tom Kim watches his shot from the sixth tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Tom Kim of South Korea wrapped up the final hole of a 6-under-par 64 after a delay of more than two hours, making him one of six players with a share of the lead at the Charles Schwab Challenge on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas.
Kim, J.J. Spaun, Ryan Gerard, Andrew Putnam, Matt McCarty and Lee Hodges are the sextet at 6 under. Hodges reached 7 under with three holes to go late Thursday evening, but he hit a wayward drive and had to lay up, leading to his only bogey of the day at his final hole, the ninth.
The first round at Colonial Country Club was suspended at 4:15 p.m. local due to a dangerous weather situation and did not resume until 6:19. At the time of the interruption, Gerard and Putnam had the clubhouse lead, while Kim had just the par-4 ninth left to play. The three-time PGA Tour winner two-putted from 52 feet to save par.
“Whether you’re playing great or not, just the horn blowing on the last hole just stinks,” Kim said. But it’s kind of part of it, and hopefully (I) manage my time well and rest well tonight.”
Before the delay, Kim made his run by birdieing seven holes in an eight-hole stretch between Nos. 14 and 3. A bogey-birdie-bogey run from Nos. 5-7 took him down a peg, but he was pleased with his game.
“Instead of thinking about the play or the finish,” he said, “every day I’m trying to build on what I’m working on and putting all the pieces together where hopefully I can keep getting my game better where I feel comfortable and start competing at a high level consistently.”
Kim, 23, won three times on the PGA Tour by the age of 21 but has fallen to No. 144 in the world rankings.
Putnam, who had a bogey-free day, seeks his second PGA Tour victory and his first since the 2018 Barracuda Championship. Gerard’s only win on tour, coincidentally, came at the Barracuda Championship last year. He mixed eight birdies with two bogeys Thursday.
“Swinging it nicely, hitting it where I want to for the most part, and just it was nice to get a couple putts to go in,” Gerard said. “I know the stats are probably going to lean more putting, but I’ve been hitting my driver really well and just like to continue doing what I’m doing for the rest of the week.”
Spaun birdied No. 18 after the suspension to conclude a bogey-free round. After winning the Valero Texas Open last month, he’s searching for another strong finish to propel him into next month’s U.S. Open, where he’s the defending champion.
Hodges, like many in the field, praised the course for its challenges but observed that it played softer from this week’s weather.
“Normally I feel like at this tournament someone shoots 8 under the first day, and 12 under wins the tournament,” said Hodges, another one-time winner on tour. “I think you’ll see some lower scores. Obviously I don’t know if there’s rain in the forecast or not, so it could get dry and firmer.”
A 12-man logjam at 5-under 65 included past major champions Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman and Gary Woodland, along with Alex Smalley, who’s seeking his first PGA Tour victory two weeks after he was the surprise 54-hole leader of the PGA Championship.
Max Homa, Russell Henley and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama stood at 4-under 66. Defending champion Ben Griffin opened with a 2-under 68.
–Field Level Media
Sports
UCF extends coach Johnny Dawkins through 2028-29
Mar 19, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCF Knights head coach Johnny Dawkins conducts a press conference during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images UCF coach Johnny Dawkins agreed to a three-year deal through the 2028-29 season, the school announced Thursday.
Dawkins, 62, guided the Knights to a second consecutive 20-win season in 2025-26 as well as appearances in the Top 25 poll and the NCAA Tournament.
“Johnny has led our men’s basketball program with outstanding poise and class,” athletic director Terry Mohajir said. “The stability and continuity he has provided have been, in my opinion, a major reason for the program’s growth. As a result, we’re excited to extend his contract. He is a strong leader and an outstanding role model for our young men. Johnny is highly deserving of this extension, and we’re excited about the future of UCF men’s basketball under his leadership.”
Dawkins reportedly had the lowest salary among Big 12 coaches last season at $2.1 million.
Dawkins has compiled a 189-132 record in 10 seasons at UCF, overseeing the Orlando-area school’s transition from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 Conference in 2023-24. His team also reached the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
The Knights were 21-12 last season, appearing at No. 25 in the Associated Press poll on Jan. 5. As a No. 10 seed, they lost to No. 7 seed UCLA 75-71 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
“What we accomplished this season was a testament to the hard work of our student-athletes, coaches and staff as we continue establishing ourselves in the Big 12,” Dawkins said. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and excited about where this program is headed. UCF has become home for my family, and I’m committed to continuing to build a program that our university and fans can be proud of.”
Dawkins was 156-115 with one NCAA Tournament appearance in eight seasons at Stanford from 2008-16, leading the Cardinal to NIT championships in 2011-12 and 2014-15. His overall record is 345-247.
Dawkins was a two-time All-American point guard and the Naismith National Player of the Year during a decorated career at Duke from 1982-86. A first-round pick (10th overall) by San Antonio in 1986, he played nine NBA seasons with the Spurs (1986-89), Philadelphia 76ers (1989-94) and Detroit Pistons (1994-95).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tennessee rides Elsa Morrison HR, tames Texas bats
Tennessee Lady Volunteers catcher Elsa Morrison (22) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning during a Women’s College World Series softball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas Longhorns at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 28, 2026. Tennessee won 6-3. Freshman Elsa Morrison smashed the first pitch she saw over the center field fence for a three-run home run in the second inning and Tennessee beat defending national champion Texas 6-3 in the Women’s College World Series at Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon.
Sage Mardjetko (15-2) got the win for Tennessee in four shutout innings and muted the high-powered Texas offense. She has 16 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings this postseason.
SEC Player of the Year Katie Stewart went hitless for the Longhorns in three at-bats.
Morrison doubled off the top of the wall in the sixth and was 2-for-3 despite missing her second homer by a narrow margin.
Taelyn Holley scored two runs for Tennessee, which avenged a 2-0 loss to Texas in the 2025 WCWS semifinals.
Morrison’s heroics are becoming expected. She belted a tiebreaking homer to sink Northern Kentucky in the regional opener and now has seven homers this season.
Texas cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth. After Gold Glove senior catcher and cleanup hitter Reese Atwood got Texas on the board, second baseman Leighann Goode delivered with two outs. She roped a two-run home run to center field off the Volunteers’ Karlyn Pickens, who was clocked at a record 78 mph — the equivalent of 109 mph from an MLB regulation pitching mound.
Pickens and Tennessee (48-10) advance to meet Texas Tech and starter NiJaree Canady on Friday for a spot in the semifinals. The Red Raiders won 8-0 in five innings in the WCWS opener Thursday.
The Longhorns will face Mississippi State, which managed two hits and zero runs Thursday against Texas Tech, in an elimination game.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Charles Schwab first round suspended with four tied for lead
May 28, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Tom Kim watches his shot from the sixth tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Tom Kim of South Korea and Erik van Rooyen of South Africa had one hole left to break out of a four-way tie for the lead when first-round play at the Charles Schwab Challenge was suspended due to a dangerous weather situation on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas.
When play was delayed at Colonial Country Club, Ryan Gerard and Andrew Putnam were in the clubhouse with 6-under-par 64s while Kim and van Rooyen were 6 under with the par-4 ninth hole left to play.
The tournament was suspended at 4:15 p.m. local time and it was not clear whether it would resume Thursday. Many groups from the afternoon wave had between one and nine holes left to play.
A 10-man logjam at 5 under par included Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman and Alex Smalley in with scores of 65, while J.J. Spaun, Gary Woodland and Lee Hodges were 5 under with some holes to go. Max Homa, Russell Henley and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama highlighted the 12-man clump at 4-under 66.
Putnam, who had a bogey-free day, seeks his second PGA Tour victory and his first since the 2018 Barracuda Championship. Gerard’s only win on tour, coincidentally, came at the Barracuda Championship last year. He mixed eight birdies with two bogeys Thursday.
–Field Level Media
UCF extends coach Johnny Dawkins through 2028-29
Tennessee rides Elsa Morrison HR, tames Texas bats
