National Sports

BELLEAIR, Fla. (AP) — Lexi Thompson birdied four of her last five holes Friday for a 6-under 64 to share the lead with Jennifer Kupcho going into the weekend of the Pelican Women's Championship.

HOUSTON (AP) — Martin Trainer was in rare territory Friday. Not only did he play well enough to stick around for the weekend, he found himself leading the Houston Open.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Lewis Hamilton beat rival Max Verstappen in qualifying to take pole position for Saturday's sprint race ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, although an engine change means the British driver is facing a five-place grid penalty on Sund

NEW YORK — Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was fined US$15,000 by the NBA on Friday for making an obscene gesture during a game against Philadelphia a day earlier.

Arkells are preparing for the Grey Cup's halftime show just like the players that will compete in the CFL's championship game. The Canadian rock band was announced as the halftime performers for this year's Grey Cup on Friday night.

TORONTO — Derek Drouin's medal upgrade from the London Olympics is a positive sign for anti-doping measures in sport.

STOCKHOLM — Denis Shapovalov advanced to his second straight Stockholm Open final with a 6-4, 7-5 win over fellow Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime on Friday, The third-seeded Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont.

TORONTO — Kevin Lowe waited 19 years for the call. Doug Wilson's phone sat silent longer still — 24 consecutive springs of eligibility before it finally rang.

TORONTO — Count Mike Morreale among supporters of a women's basketball league in Canada.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes are facing the team with the best record in the CFL on Saturday — but it won't quite be the Winnipeg Blue Bombers that have dominated all year.