Brian Harman handled the wind and the chill Sunday with a pair of key birdies on the back nine Sunday in the Valero Texas Open, closing with a 3-over 75 for a three-shot victory, his first title since the 2023 British Open.

Harman began the final round with a three-shot lead and it soon became a tight battle with Andrew Novak, who was going for his first PGA Tour victory and a spot in the Masters.

Ryan Gerard made his only bogey on the final hole for a 69 to finish runner-up. It was one of only seven rounds under par at the TPC San Antonio.Andrew Novak shot 76 and fell into a tie for third with Maverick McNealy (72).

Sagstrom wins LPGA Match Play tourney

Madelene Sagstrom ended more than a five-year LPGA Tour victory drought, overcoming the loss of a four-hole lead at difficult Shadow Creek in a 1-up victory over Lauren Coughlin in the T-Mobile Match Play final.

Sagstrom took the lead for good with a par at the par-5 16th hole. Coughlin made a double bogey on the hole. Perhaps it was a fitting when the world’s top-ranked players fell one after another at the picturesque but demanding course that a ranked 67th claimed the $300,000 winner’s share.

The Swede’s other win came in 2020 at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio. The final match reached the 18th green for the first time the 5-year-old event.

baseball

Brewers lose Cortes to left elbow strain

The Milwaukee Brewers placed left-hander Nestor Cortes on the 15-day injured list with a flexor strain in his left elbow.

Cortes’ elbow problem surfaced last weekend following a rough outing that saw him give up three home runs on consecutive pitches and five overall in a 20-9 loss to the New York Yankees.

Imaging tests revealed no structural damage, and Cortes threw six shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night.

Cortes said the elbow didn’t feel right on Friday, and he and the team agreed he needed to go on the injured list.

The Brewers said further testing would be done on Cortes’ elbow.

Left-handed reliever Grant Wolfram was recalled from Triple-A Nashville.

Dodgers place Snell on injured list

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Blake Snell on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation.

Snell went 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his first two starts for the Dodgers this season.

The World Series champion Dodgers signed the left-handed Snell to a $182 million, five-year contract in the offseason.

The Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Matt Sauer from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday to take Snell’s spot on the roster.

motorsports

Hamlin wins in OT at Darlington Raceway

Denny Hamlin took his last lead out of the pits right before an overtime finish and then held off William Byron to win the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway.

Hamlin got his chance when Kyle Larson spun out after Ryan Blaney had taken the lead with three laps left to force the extra laps.

Hamlin came out of the pits in front then took off on the restart for his fifth career win at Darlington and second straight after winning at Martinsville a week ago.

Verstappen wins Japanese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix for his first victory of the Formula 1 season.

It was Verstappen’s fourth straight victory on the Suzuka circuit in central Japan and breaks the momentum of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who won the season’s first two races in Australia and China.

Norris placed second and Piastri was third. The track was dry despite rain earlier in the day to produce an incident-free race.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth followed by George Russell of Mercedes and teammate Kimi Antonelli in sixth.

Basketball

Brunson back in Knicks’ lineup

Jalen Brunson had 15 points and six assists in his return to the New York Knicks’ lineup in a 112-98 win against Phoenix.

The All-Star point guard had been out since spraining his ankle a month ago.

Brunson missed 15 games after he was hurt late in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6.

The Knicks went 9-6 without Brunson, their captain, to remain in third place in the Eastern Conference.

Briefly

St. Paul Saints >> The Saints were walked off the second time in the last five days and ninth time in 34 losses at the Columbus Clippers, losing 3-2.

gophers softball >> The Minnesota softball team broke through with three runs in the sixth inning for an 11-8 win at Purdue. Pitcher Sydney Schwartz earned the win out of the bullpen for the Gophers (14-23, 3-10 Big Ten).

— From news services