The European Tour and Ladies European Tour are taking their most significant step yet bringing male and female pros together in competition.

For the first time next summer, they will co-sanction men and women competing with and against each other for the same trophy and the same purse in a 72-hole, stroke-play tournament with official world ranking points offered on both tours. 

The tours announced jointly Monday that the inaugural Scandinavian Mixed is scheduled June 11-14 with a field of 78 men and 78 women playing for a total purse of €1.5 million at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm, Sweden.

Fellow Swedes Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam will play large roles as co-hosts, with Stenson planning to play in the event, and Sorenstam, retired since 2008, planning to play in the pro-ams.

“I’m extremely excited to host the Scandinavian Mixed alongside Annika, one of the best golfers the world has seen,” Stenson said. “To have men and women competing alongside one another showcases what is great about our game. 

“The European Tour has been leading the way in terms of innovative formats, and I believe this is certainly one that can be part of the way golf is played in the future.”

Details related to pairings and the course will be set up have yet to be announced, but the tournament hosts expressed excitement about the attention the competition will get.

“This mixed tournament is another way to bring our game to the younger generation in Sweden and for those watching around the world,” Sorenstam said.

The European Tour will award Ryder Cup and Race to Dubai points in the event. The LET will count winnings toward its official Order of Merit totals.

Stenson and Sorenstam are committed to host the next three years.

“We have been in close collaboration with the women’s game in recent years, not only on the European Tour, but also across the European Challenge Tour and Staysure Tour with events held in Northern Ireland and Jordan,” European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley said. “This tournament is the next step for male and female golfers to compete together on one course, for one prize fund, and one trophy.”

The European Tour collaborated earlier this year with the PGA Tour of Australasia and the LPGA in a mixed event at the ISPS Handa Vic Open in Australia, with men and women competing together on the same courses for equal prize money but in separate competitions. This summer, the European Tour’s Challenge Tour and Staysure Tour competed with LET pros for the same purse at the Jordan Mixed Open. The European Tour’s GolfSixes Cascais is a short-form unofficial team event that has featured male and female teams and mixed teams. The European Tour has also combined to stage its Trophee Hassan event with the LET’s Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, with two separate events played at the same time in the same city and at the same club (two different courses).

India Women 146 (Harmanpreet 38, Pandey 35, Kapp 3-20, Ismail 2-18, Khaka 2-33) beat South Africa Women 140 (Kapp 29, Bisht 3-32, Gayakwad 2-22, Sharma 2-24) by six runs

Marizanne Kapp's three-wicket haul and 29 with the bat went in vain as India Women's spinners were far too good for the South Africa Women batters, giving the home side a six-run win in the third and final ODI and complete a whitewash.

Batting first, India had slipped to 71 for 6 against the South Africa seamers - Kapp, Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka. However, a 49-run stand between Harmanpreet Kaur and Shikha Pandey for the seventh wicket gave to drag India to 146.

Ekta Bisht then picked up 3 for 32, and Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad chipped in with two wickets each, as South Africa were bundled out for 140.

South Africa had started their chase positively, and despite losing Lizelle Lee and Trisha Chetty cheaply, they were 50 for 2 in the 13th over. However, India's spinners struck back after that. Sharma dismissed Mignon du Preez before Gayakwad removed the set Laura Wolvaardt, who might have felt a bit hard done by, as the lbw appeal was upheld despite a bit of confusion as to whether the ball had hit pad first or bat.

ALSO READ: Will 'Hammerpreet' Kaur make a reappearance?

Captain Sune Luus and Kapp revived the chase from 63 for 5 and took the side to 103 before Bisht dismissed the former for 24. When Sharma trapped Kapp lbw, India looked favourites as South Africa still needed 28 runs with three wickets in hand.

Ismail and Nondumiso Shangase took them closer but with ten runs to win, Bisht dismissed Shangase. In the next over, Ismail tried to slog Harmanpreet only to find Punam Raut at deep midwicket. Despite Pandey and Mansi Joshi still having their overs left, Mithali Raj threw the ball to Jemimah Rodrigues, who got Tumi Sekhukhune caught at first slip to wrap up the game.

Earlier, India didn't have a great start after opting to bat as Ismail bounced out Priya Punia for a duck with the fourth ball of the day. Rodrigues fell in the next over, edging Kapp to Lee in gully while trying to flick.

Raut and Raj resisted but couldn't get the scoreboard moving. In an attempt to break the shackles, Raut swung wildly against Khaka only to be bowled for 15. Raj too tried to chip Kapp down the ground but mistimed and was caught at mid-off. And when Taniya Bhatia was bowled by Luus, India were reeling at 71 for 6.

However, Harmanpreet and Pandey stuck together and took the side past 100 in the 36th over. Harmanpreet hit five fours in her 38 off 76, while Pandey was more adventurous, collecting six fours in her 40-ball 35. The stand was broken by Kapp, who bowled Harmanpreet for her third wicket when the total was 120. But the last three wickets added 26 runs and that proved to be the difference in the end.

GB’s Douglas and Ireland’s McCormack claim overall series victories, while Hayley Carruthers and Omar Ahmed win at the Great Birmingham Run

Away from magnificent marathon action in Vienna and Chicago and the first event in the British Athletics Cross Challenge series in Cardiff, there were a number of other athletics highlights and you can find them listed below.

REPORT: Eliud Kipchoge runs sub-two-hour marathon

REPORT: Brigid Kosgei smashes marathon world record in Chicago

REPORT: Marc Scott and Charlotte Arter win at Cardiff Cross Challenge

Smarna Gora Mountain Running Race, WMRA World Cup, Slovenia, October 12

Eritrea’s Petro Mamu and Lucy Murigi of Kenya won the Smarna Gora Mountain Running Race, the final event in the 2019 WMRA World Cup series, but overall season winners were confirmed as Britain’s Andrew Douglas and Ireland’s Sarah McCormack, who finished fourth and second respectively on the day to secure series success.

Douglas achieved a total of 525 points and McCormack scored 495 points.

Filimon Abraham, who challenged his fellow Eritrean Mamu in Slovenia, was second overall in the men’s standings with 365 points ahead of Mamu, while Murigi finished second in the women’s rankings with 210 points ahead of Britain’s Emma Clayton.

The 2019 World Cup series had begun in the French Alps of Annecy and included races in the USA, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Italy and finally Slovenia.

Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run, October 13

Hayley Carruthers and Omar Ahmed won the Great Birmingham Run, which took place on a shortened course.

In a statement released after the race, organisers said the half-marathon route had been altered to avoid Cannon Hill Park and Edgbaston after being advised of a suspicious vehicle in the Cannon Hill Park area.

The event formed part of Carruthers’ preparations for the Frankfurt Marathon and on Instagram she wrote: “Happy to take the win on home soil and to run with my team-mates to test out the marathon pace for two weeks’ time.

“Shame about the course being changed due to ‘suspicious vehicle’ but still got 11 miles of marathon pace work in to end another 100 mile week.”

She won in 62:09 ahead of Lucy Reid in 63:34 and Laura Gent in 65:54.

Top 3 Elite Women @SimplyhealthUK #GreatBirminghamRun ?

? Hayley Carruthers 01:02:09
? Lucy Reid 01:03:34
? Laura Gent 01:05:54

Congratulations! ? pic.twitter.com/QYQIlsHZ77

— Great Run (@Great_Run) October 13, 2019

Ahmed’s winning time was 52:18 ahead of Douglas Musson in 55:33 and William Mycroft in 56:41.

Perkins Great Eastern Run, Peterborough, October 13

The fun run events were won by Dylan Tomaselli and Ella Robinson but organisers were forced to cancel the half-marathon “because of Police information that a man was acting suspiciously close to the route”.

PGER race director Jon Marsden discusses the decision to cancel the racehttps://t.co/O76NLc93Jc

— Great Eastern Run (@PerkinsGER) October 13, 2019

Wiggle Manchester Half, October 13

Ben Connor and Lily Partridge claimed victory, clocking respective times of 63:11 and 73:44.

Weynay Ghebresilasie was second in the men’s race in 64:06 and Frank Baddick third in 64:18, while women’s race runner-up was Jip Vastenburg in 74:17 ahead of Elinor Kirk in 76:12.

Samuel Kolek and Ellie Page won the wheelchair races in 52:50 and 79:42 respectively.

Cabbage Patch 10, Twickenham, October 13

Steph Twell and her partner Joe Morwood won this 10-mile event in 55:03 and 50:18 respectively, with Twell’s time placing her 12th overall.

Marathon Eindhoven, Netherlands, October 13

Laban Mutai won the men’s race in 2:06:40 as Kenyan athletes filled the top eight places, while Betty Jepleting won the women’s race in 2:28:43.

B.A.A. Half Marathon, Boston, USA, October 13

Philemon Kiplimo clocked 61:58 and Brillian Kipkoech 67:40 to win the half-marathon in Boston in course record times.

FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN, South Africa, October 13

Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui set an African all-comers’ record of 30:55 to win the women’s race, while Stephen Mokoka won the men’s race on home soil in 28:12.

Watch 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer argue with umpire Nacho Forcadell after receiving a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct against Germany's Alexander Zverev in the Shanghai Masters.

READ MORE: Federer & Djokovic knocked out in quarter-finals

Red and white stripes everywhere, dogs in rugby shirts, wigs, paper scrum caps and a smile. Always a smile.

Japan may have qualified for a first World Cup quarter-final by beating Scotland but their fans long ago sealed their place as the best in the tournament.

It has not been an easy 48 hours for the country. Japan's biggest typhoon in 61 years tore through several regions on Saturday, leaving at least 23 people dead.

But on Sunday morning, the skies had cleared, the sun shone and Japan showed the resilience it takes to live in a country constantly battered by natural disasters.

Among rugby fans, talk turned to whether the team's decisive World Cup match against Scotland would go ahead or not.

Videos on social media on Saturday had already shown the Japan team wading through knee-high water to get to the field at their flooded training ground.

Away from the pitch, the Scottish Rugby Union had made their feelings clear on a possible cancellation and Japan head coach Jamie Joseph demanded more respect for his side, saying they were desperate to play too.

Images on the news of roads submerged in flood water and houses with roofs blown off made play seem impossible and submerged flood plains around the stadium did not look promising either.

There was no need for doubt given the ingenuity of the Japanese, though. The stadium was built on stilts and so was safe. The game would go ahead.

Some may have questioned the decision to bring the tournament to a country where such extreme weather can make matches unplayable, but the scenes at Yokohama should surely put those thoughts out of people's minds.

Fans flocked to the 72,000-capacity ground hours before kick-off and the scene they created was the ray of joy the country needed after the typhoon.

More and more red and white shirts gathered. A sense of history was in the air and the locals knew it - long queues formed for programmes and the merchandise shop.

Japan might have been about to seal a place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time and everyone wanted a souvenir to take away with them.

A historic win against South Africa at the 2015 World Cup was the catalyst for increased interest in the Japan team four years ago, but no such catalyst was needed at this tournament.

Japan shirts have long been sold out at stores across the country and the expected television audience for Sunday's match was an estimated 50m people.

If this game had been cancelled, the World Cup would have been a darker place. But the jeopardy around whether it would be played or not, combined with the fact that everyone had been forced to spend the previous 24 hours indoors for their own safety, meant supporters were ecstatic to be there.

The extra time spent inside clearly gave fans time to plan their outfits - a rugby shirt is just not enough for Japanese supporters.

There were rugby-themed kimonos, wigs in the colours of the Japan flag and even rugby earrings on show.

And of course Bak-san, a fan who has earned celebrity status at this World Cup by painting shirts on his torso at games, made an appearance.

As fans waited for kick-off in front of the ground, a rendition of Flower of Scotland broke out and it was not just Scottish fans singing.

Inside the stadium, the sense of anticipation heightened as the players emerged onto the pitch. A moment's silence was held in memory of those who had died in the typhoon and the poignancy was carried through to the Japanese national anthem.

The television cameras showed tear-stained faces in the crowd as they sang the sombre tune with a level of emotion not often seen in such a reserved and polite culture.

Chants of 'Nippon', the Japanese word for Japan, broke out straight after kick-off and every hit was met with a huge cheer, except for tackles made by New Zealand-born Michael Leitch.

Each time the Brave Blossoms captain - a hero in his adopted country ever since that win against South Africa - so much as approached the ball a prolonged cry of 'Leitch' would ring out.

Even scrum penalties won sent the crowd into raptures and it was not just those inside the stadium invested in every twist and turn of the game.

In Oita, where England and Wales will play their quarter-finals, bars were full of screaming fans, while at Tokyo's famous Shibuya crossing, fans streamed into the middle of the road in celebration at the end.

Japan were a team with a nation behind them and those inside the stadium in Yokohama made themselves heard.

There were howls of pain as Scotland's Finn Russell went over for the first try then shrieks of delight when Japan drew level with Kotaro Matsushima's score.

Japanese fans had already won many hearts, but on the pitch Japan play a loveable brand of rugby too and another glorious offload meant Keita Inagaki was the next man to cross.

Kenki Fukuoka, who was eventually given his man of the match award by fellow Japanese sporting great Naomi Osaka, scored twice and it felt increasingly clear that Japan had earned a place in the last eight.

But WP Nel's try for Scotland seven minutes later ramped up the anxiety and spirits reached their lowest level after a leaky defence allowed Zander Fagerson through.

The crowd regrouped and willed Japan on, roaring relentlessly for the final five minutes of the game. They counted the final five seconds down until the ball was kicked into the stands and they exploded into ecstasy and, in some cases, tears.

The response to the win from both players and fans showed that this match was closer to a World Cup final than a pool game for Japan.

The post-match celebrations continued for half an hour after full-time as the team lined up to bow to every side of the stadium and fans chanted their country's name in response.

The players gathered for a photo with the crowd behind them before forming a circle and singing, not wanting their time on the pitch to end.

Eventually, just seven players were left kneeling in a huddle, with Leitch doing the talking. And as they finally left the pitch, it was with a joyful wave to the crowd.

It has been a trying 48 hours for the Japanese population, but those in Yokohama on Sunday were still smiling. And now they have even more reason to.

Johnny Sexton has questioned the "negativity" around Ireland's World Cup campaign, insisting the Irish are ready for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against the All Blacks.

Ireland's Pool A defeat by Japan has landed them a last-eight tussle with the holders, but Sexton remains upbeat.

"There's been some negativity around us and we'd feel that's been pretty strange," said the fly-half.

"We're pretty confident and pretty positive in how we've been building."

And Sexton, who at 34 remains Ireland's most vital player, added: "Apart from that 60 minutes against Japan everything else has pretty much gone to plan."

Saturday's dominant 47-5 bonus-point win over Samoa clinched Ireland's quarter-finals place but the hosts secured top spot in Pool A by holding off Scotland in a thrilling contest in Yokohama on Sunday to set up their last-eight meeting with South Africa.

Sexton admits that the Irish will have to produce a near flawless display to have any chance of defeating the defending champions.

"We need to be pretty close to as good as we can be in all aspects to get the result," said Sexton.

"We know they're the best team in the world and we have got to play our best to get there."

The two nations have not met at a World Cup since 1995, when the All Blacks won 43-19 in Johannesburg.

The game in Tokyo will see Ireland aiming to advance beyond the quarter-finals for the first time.

In the previous two editions of the tournament, Ireland impressed in the early stages of the competition before being comprehensively outplayed in the last eight.

Sexton, who missed Ireland's World Cup loss to Argentina four years ago through injury, is hoping that the Japan defeat "got that sort of quarter-final performance out of our system".

"The way we played against Japan was very similar to the way we played against Wales and Argentina in the last two quarter-finals.

"The difference is we are not favourites going into this quarter-final like we were in the last two."

Ireland waiting on Aki red card verdict

New Zealand topped Group B after coming out on top of their pivotal opening game against South Africa in Yokohama.

The victory was followed by big wins over Canada and Namibia before their final game against Italy was cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis.

"New Zealand are used to dealing with pressure," Sexton continued.

"I watched the documentary they did on Amazon - they are beating teams by 40 points and they're still getting slated at home.

"That pressure is with them every time they put on the jersey."

Ireland left Fukuoka on Japan's west coast for Tokyo on Monday, where they will find out whether centre Bundee Aki is available for the quarter-final following his red card against Samoa.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Logan Seavey was a man on a mission entering Sunday night’s POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League feature at Belle-Clair Speedway, and he accomplished the goal in style.

Seavey started from the outside pole and led all the way to capture his 12th POWRi win of the season at the fifth-mile, semi-banked dirt oval.

The Sutter, Calif., young gun was never seriously threatened during the 30-lap Charlene Meents Memorial, driving to a .885-second victory over polesitter Andrew Felker on a challenging surface.

“It feels good just to finish on a race track like that,” said Seavey in victory lane. “She was rough, and it makes it fun, but it makes it tough as a driver to maneuver around the race track and stay on all four wheels. It’s fun to get that every once in a while, though, and cowboy up a little bit. I’m sure it made a heck of a race to watch and it’s exciting for the fans.

“I tried to rip the top the whole race and it seemed like as the race went on, it got harder and harder to run up there,” Seavey added. “We had to move around in lap traffic, and my car was able to go everywhere. That’s just what you need to do to win these races.”

Seavey’s win broke the previous record of 11 triumphs in a single POWRi season, set by one of Seavey’s predecessors and mentors at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports – Christopher Bell.

It was fitting then, that on the same night Bell won with the World of Outlaws at Tri-State Speedway in Indiana, Seavey eclipsed Bell’s 2014 mark with the most impressive year-long run in POWRi history.

“That’s pretty cool,” said Seavey. “I always say that just to be racing midgets is a dream come true for me. To be out here with Keith Kunz Motorsports and put a season like this together is just a dream come true and it’s unbelievable.

“Hopefully we’ve got a lot more racing to go yet and hopefully we can just keep on winning.”

Only two cautions interrupted Seavey’s march to victory with the No. 67 Mobil 1 Bullet by Spike/Speedway Toyota. The first waved with six laps scored for the stalled car of Daniel Adler on the frontstretch, and the second came at halfway for Broc Hunnell, also stopped on the main straight.

On both of the ensuing restarts, Felker threw everything he could muster at Seavey, to no avail.

Seventeen-year-old Buddy Kofoid, in his second-career POWRi start, finished on the podium for the second night in a row with a third-place run behind Seavey and Felker.

TRD Hard Charger Cannon McIntosh rolled from 23rd to fourth after taking a provisional due to engine woes before the B-main, with Jesse Colwell extending his POWRi points lead by crossing the line fifth.

Colwell now leads Zach Daum, who came home ninth, by 50 points in the race for the season title.

To view complete race results, advance to the next page.

WHEATLAND, Mo. – USRA B-Mod National points leader Kris Jackson earned his 27th victory of the season and eighth at Lucas Oil Speedway on Sunday night during the B-Mod Clash of Champions II.

It was far from easy, especially with worry about a motor that was sputtering over the final dozen laps.

“I got to the lead and when I was passing a lapped car, something happened,” Jackson said of his motor. “It started popping and carrying on. It finally cleared out, but it’s got a dead-miss in it. I was just holding it on the floor the last 15 laps.

“I feel sorry for the motor, but I feel like we needed to win and here we are.”

Jackson, who earned $3,000, finished ahead of Andy Bryant, surviving a restart with six laps to go. Gunner Martin was third with J.C. Morton fourth and Ryan Gillmore fifth.

“I have to thank all the guys who work on the car. We have a lot of fun in the pits, despite all the stress,” Jackson said. “We come in, I feel, with a target on our back.”

Ryan Gillmore started on the front row and led the first eight laps before Jackson, who started fifth, made an inside pass for the lead coming to the finish of lap nine.

Jackson remained out front, as Gillmore and Bryant gave chase with the three separated by less than a second as the trio worked through slower traffic during the lengthy green-flag run.

Jackson was ahead of Bryant by one-half second with Gillmore right behind when the race’s first caution flew on lap 33 after Parker Hale spun in turn two.

One lap after the restart, another caution came out, this one for debris on the track. Jackson had opened up a five-car-length lead as Gillmore and Bryant battled side-by-side for second with Brian McGowen in fourth.

That set the stage for a six-lap shootout. Jackson was up to the task, riding the low side as Bryant tried to make up ground by taking to the high groove.

“Everything was going fine with no cautions, then that caution came out,” Jackson said. “I just knew it wasn’t going to take off right. Normally on a restart I’ll start it real slow because Jim (Ruble) builds such a good motor, I can take off from almost a dead stop.

“I decided since it wasn’t running right, I’d keep my momentum up on the restarts. I thought they’d be coming. I couldn’t help but look up at the (video board) a couple of times and noticed that they weren’t right on me. I just had to keep doing the same thing over and over.”

Jackson finished about six car lengths in front of Bryant with 10th-starting Gunner Martin moving into third on the final lap. JC Morton, who started 13th, advanced to fourth and Gillmore, slipping on the final circuit, wound up fifth.

“You have to give kudos to Kris,” Bryant said. “He ran a clean race and got to the bottom first and went off from there.”

The finish:

Kris Jackson, Andy Bryant, Gunner Martin, J.C. Morton, Ryan Gilmore, Brian McGowen, Jayden Larson, Dillon McCowan, Kyle Slader, Terry Schultz, Robbe Ewing, Tyler Tesch, Shaun Walski, Parker Hale, Luke Nieman, Brantlee Gotschall, Mike Striegel, Damien Vandenberg, Jerry Ellis, Jeremy Lile, Dylan Allen, Eric Turner, B.J. Deal, Gene Sisco.