Two-time championship coach Erik Spoelstra has agreed to a long-term contract extension with the Miami Heat, league sources told ESPN.

Spoelstra, who would have been entering the final season of his deal, quietly negotiated a new contract that allows him to continue as the league's second-longest-tenured active coach with one team, trailing only San Antonio's Gregg Popovich.

The extension will keep him under contract through the 2024-25 season, league sources said.

Spoelstra will be starting his 12th season as the franchise's head coach when the Heat open training camp on Tuesday. Spoelstra has a .590 regular-season winning percentage and .602 in the playoffs, including four trips to the NBA Finals and two NBA titles (2012 and 2013).

Spoelstra has developed a reputation as one of the league's best-prepared coaches, consistently maximizing and developing his talent. Beyond the Big Three era with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, the Heat have succeeded with a number of reclamation projects, including undervalued and overlooked minor league players.

Miami missed the playoffs a season ago but acquired All-Star guard Jimmy Butler in the offseason to reshape a roster that is hopeful to return to the postseason for the ninth time in Spoelstra's tenure.

Spoelstra, 48, has spent his entire professional life with the Heat. He started in the video room and worked his way up as an advance scout and eventually the assistant coaching staff before replacing Heat president Pat Riley in 2008 as head coach.

New York Yankees ace James Paxton underwent an MRI on Saturday morning and said he was diagnosed with "nerve irritation," which apparently caused the tightness in his left glute on Friday night.

Paxton said he took medication and doesn't expect it to be an issue heading into the playoffs.

Paxton was removed from Friday night's start against the Texas Rangers after one inning. His departure ended his career-best streak of victories in 10 consecutive starts.

The left-hander is 15-6 with a 3.73 ERA this season and has not lost a start since July 26.

ESPN's Marly Rivera contributed to this report.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jorge Soler hit his 46th and 47th home runs of the season Saturday, breaking a tie with Mike Trout for the American League lead with one day to go in the regular season.

No Royals player has ever led the AL in home runs.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Angels shut down Trout, who has 45 home runs, for the remainder of the season due to a nerve issue in his foot.

Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman and Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz are tied for third in the AL with 41 homers apiece.

Mets rookie Pete Alonso leads the NL with 52 home runs.

DENVER -- Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun will miss the final two scheduled games of the regular season this weekend because of a mild left calf strain but hopes to be available after that for the playoff-bound Brewers.

An MRI on Braun's calf Saturday morning confirmed the injury, sustained during Friday night's loss to Colorado. Braun hit an RBI single in the first inning and played left field in the bottom half before he was pulled in the second. He said the strain was at the top of his calf, close to the back of his knee.

Braun says he will receive treatment over the next couple of days, but won't test his calf before Monday. Milwaukee has clinched a playoff berth and could end up in a tiebreaker Monday against St. Louis for the NL Central title. If the Brewers don't win the division, they will play Washington in the wild-card game Tuesday night.

The 35-year-old Braun has been in and out of the lineup all season because of back issues. He is hitting .284 with 22 home runs and 75 RBIs.

Third baseman Mike Moustakas was back in the lineup Saturday. He missed Friday's game with left elbow soreness but says he is feeling better.

Dutch athlete shows superb finishing speed to win, while GB’s three 800m men advance

Sifan Hassan won the women’s world 10,000m title with the greatest extended finishing speed ever witnessed in a 25-lap race.

At the IAAF World Championships in Doha, she covered the last 1500m in an extraordinary four minutes flat.

The race was painfully slow for a lap but after a lap of 80.98, European under-23 champion Alina Reh picked up the pace to a more respectable 75.62, 74.80 and 74.68.

The opening kilometre was 3:13.86 but the second was 3:06.95, with Reh ahead on 6:20.81.

The 74/75-second lap pace continued through 3000m in 9:29.08 and the whole field of 19 was covered by three seconds.

Reh’s position as leader ended during the fourth kilometre as she began to slow to 76 seconds.

Rosemary Wanjiru then split the field up with laps of 72.08, 71.87, 72.10 and 72.55.

This 30-minute tempo reduced the medal contenders to seven – three Kenyans, three Ethiopians and Hassan.

The Dutch athlete was caught out by the change of pace and was a few seconds back for a few laps but gradually she closed up and sat at the back of the pack.

Wanjiru led through 4000m in 12:30.99, with Hassan on 12:33.40, and Agnes Tirop was ahead at 5000m (15:32.70) from Wanjiru (15:32.93), Senbere Teferi (15:33.12), reigning 5000m champion Hellen Obiri (15:33.39), Netsanet Gudeta (15:33.61), Letsenet Gidey (15:33.77) and Hassan (15:33.82).

Chasing was Japan’s Hitomi Niiya (15:37.95), while Emily Sisson (15:41.23) led a pack of Americans and Europeans which included Britain’s Steph Twell (12th, 15:41.99).

Reh was struggling and going back (15:45.39) and she dropped out dramatically clutching her stomach a few laps later before being taken off on a stretcher.

The laps dropped slightly to 73 seconds as Wanjiru led through 6000m (18:36.29) but Gudeta was off the back and it was down to six.

There was no real significant increase through 7000m as Obiri (21:39.89) went ahead but at 8000m world leader Gidey (24:44.89) went ahead and with four laps to go, changed pace dramatically.

The next lap was a sensational 64.91 and she followed that with a 65.33.

Through 9000m, Gidey – striding out beautifully – led in 27:37.22, five metres clear of Tirop (27:38.06) with Hassan (27:38.19) looking measured and in control just ahead of Obiri (27:38.35) with Wanjiru (27:41.02) clearly no longer a medal challenger.

The penultimate lap was a mere 66.16 as Hassan burst past just before the bell and began a long drive to the finish.

Briefly Gidey responded but Hassan blasted the next 200m in 29.80 and the race was over.

Her last lap was 61 seconds, her last 1000m 2:39, last 3000m 8:38 and second half 14:43 but it is the last 1500m which will astound all those waiting now to see whether Hassan runs the 1500m or 5000m later in the championships.

Her final 1500m was 3:59.09 – quicker than the last five world 1500m finals.

Hassan’s overall time was a world-leading 30:17.62, with Gidey second on 30:21.23 and Tirop leading the Kenyan challenge in 30:25.20 as Wanjiru (30:35.75) picked off a fading Obiri (30:35.82).

“What an incredible feeling. I could never have imagined how good this feels,” said Hassan. “It took a while for the race to really get going but as it passed by I got better and better. It was a difficult race but I remained calm and focused and I turned out to be the best today. I have matured over the years. I have a lot more focus now than before which really helped me today. I am just so happy.”

Back in seventh, Susan Krumins excelled to be top European-born athlete with seventh in 31:05.40 just ahead of top American Marielle Hall (31:05.71).

In 14th, Australian Sinead Diver broke Jo Pavey’s world over-40 record with 31:25.49. Pavey’s time was 31:33.44.

Twell found the final three kilometres hard and finished 15th in a respectable 31:44.79 as 11 of the first 14 set PBs.

“I am pleased,” said Twell. “It is my second-fastest 10km on the track.

“I would have liked to have gone quicker and with the group but I stuck to my task and I was really happy with that.

“I didn’t quite have the sharper legs that I used to have for the 1500m and 5km to be able to hold on to the pace and in four weeks’ time I have a marathon so I am in a very different preparation.”

Ajee’ Wilson and GB’s men advance in 800m

The women’s 800m semi-finals saw both Britons fail to qualify.

Raevyn Rogers controlled the opening semi, starting fast (26.89 at 200m), easing back to the bell (400m in 57.88), slowing even more through 600m (89.61), then reaccelerating to the line to win in 1:59.27 from Winnie Nanyondo’s 1:59.75.

Alex Bell was not too far back at 600m but lost ground on the bend as she lacked her usual kick and finished fifth in a non-qualifying 2:01.23.

The second semi saw event favourite Ajee’ Wilson employ similar tactics to Rogers with 200m splits of 27.51, 31.89, 31.11 and 29.80 and she won easily in 2:00.31. Rababe Arafi was second in 2:00.80.

European indoor champion Shelayna Oskan-Clarke was well placed but slightly boxed through 400m and 600m. She was third into the straight but was starting to fade when Hedda Hynde passed her on the inside and then she lost her balance 10 metres before the line and fell heavily. She got up to finish eighth in 2:10.89 but was already out of a qualifying position.

In the final heat, former world champion Eunice Sum tried a similar control role and led into the straight though faded in the last 50 metres and was easily overtaken by Ugandan Halimah Nakaai, who sprinted impressively to an easy win in 1:59.35 from Sum’s 2:00.10.

Nakaai though was boxed into the straight and clearly pushed Natoya Goule to get a clear run and the Jamaican lost her balance.

However, as Goule got through as a fastest loser anyway, the Ugandan was surprisingly allowed to go through to the final.

The men’s 800m heats saw six competitive races and qualification for all three Britons with Elliott Giles particularly impressive.

Donavan Brazier, a 1:42.70 man this year, won the opening heat with a strong finish in 1:46.04. European silver medallist Andreas Kramer was only fourth in a non-qualifying 1:46.74.

The second heat was won by world junior silver medallist Ngeno Kipngetich in 1:46.07. Close behind, Jamie Webb was well placed into the straight but had to fight hard to keep his third automatic qualifying place and his 1:46.23 just about held off USA’s Brannon Kidder’s 1:46.40 and fast finish.

The third heat saw Qatar’s Abubaker Haydar Abdalla set a furious pace of 24.30, 50.80 and 77.98 through 200m, 400m and 600m. Though he took a painful 14.49 for the last 100m and was overtaken by Canada’s 1:43.20 performer Brandon McBride, who won in 1:45.96, he finished in a clear qualifying spot of second in 1:46.11.

Defending champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse was third in 1:46.14.

The fourth heat saw Mark English run uncharacteristically from the front with 25.10 and 51.89 splits which gave him a good lead though he was fading at 600m and ended up struggling home seventh in 1:47.25.

It was close up front with Olympic fifth-placer Ferguson Cheruiyot narrowly winning in 1:45.98.

Adam Kszczot, the silver medallist of the last two championships, ran an unusually poor race for him and was only fifth in 1:46.20, despite the fastest last 100m of 12.89, though his time was good enough for a fastest losers spot.

The fifth heat was the fastest yet and won by 1:42.05 performer Emmanuel Korir in 1:45.16 from Mostafa Smali’s 1:45.27.

London 2017 fourth-placer Kyle Langford, not at his fittest, found the last 100 metres tough but his 1:46.14 fifth place was sufficient for a place by time.

The best British performance by far came at the end as Giles took control of the final heat on the second lap and led past 600m in 78.77 and he held his form well with a 26.76 final 200m to win in 1:45.53 and hold off 1:42 performers Clayton Murphy and Amel Tuka (who both ran 1:45.62) while Alvara de Arriba ran 1:45.67 in fourth to also nab a fastest losers spot.

World leader Nijel Amos, who has run 1:41.89 this year, failed to show for his heat after reportedly suffering an Achilles injury.

Check out the dedicated Doha 2019 section on our website here.

Jamaican shocks rivals to go No.10 on world all-time lists on day two at IAAF World Championships

Tajay Gayle rose to the occasion in spectacular style to win the men’s long jump title with the biggest leap for a decade and the 10th furthest in history.

The 23-year-old is an early contender for biggest surprise winner of the IAAF World Championships in Doha as he improved his best from 8.32m to 8.69m to smash James Beckford’s long-standing Jamaican record by 7cm.

Gayle set his stall out with an 8.46m first round effort but jumped 8.69m (0.5m/sec) in the fourth round as Jeff Henderson, the Olympic champion from the United States, finished runner-up with 8.39m (-0.1m/sec), while Juan Miguel Echevarria of Cuba took bronze with 8.34m (0.1m/sec).

Twenty-four hours earlier the winner only squeezed into the final as the 12th best qualifier with 7.89m. “Yesterday I made some mistakes and I went back to the drawing board,” he said, explaining how he turned things around. “On the runway … I just ran faster!”

It was the best legal long jump mark since four-time world champion Dwight Phillips’ 8.74m in 2009.

Of the many stunning statistics relating to his achievement, which was he most pleased with? “The personal best,” he said simply, before adding after a pause: “And the gold medal.”

Silver medallist Henderson said: “I wasn’t supposed to be here,” as he explained he’d planned to have a quiet year ahead of a more committed Olympic campaign.

Echevarria had led the qualifiers but was in good spirits after the competition despite losing gold. “Even though they beat me they are my colleagues and I’m not mad,” he said through a translator.

“I’m happy that I was able to make it on to the podium,” added Echevarria, who also saw Gayle pass him on the all-time rankings by 1cm.

Close behind in fourth was 2017 champion Luvo Manyonga, who jumped 8.28m (-0.1m/sec) just ahead of fellow South African Ruswahl Samaai, who jumped 8.23m (-0.3m/sec).

Stahl heads discus qualifiers

World No.1 Daniel Stahl led the men’s discus qualifiers with 67.88m and in Monday’s final the giant Swedish thrower will be going for gold after missing out on the title by just 2cm in 2017 to Andrius Gudžius.

Olympic champion Christoph Harting went out, though, as the German finished 14th with 63.08m.

World record-holder Renaud Lavillenie went out in pole vault qualifying at 5.60m but he wasn’t the only big name to exit. Paweł Wojciechowski, the 2011 world champion and reigning European indoor champion, cleared only 5.70, while British hope Harry Coppell wasn’t even able to take a vault after aggravating a hip injury during warm up.

World champion Sam Kendricks, European champion Mondo Duplantis, Olympic champion Thiago Braz and European Team Championships winner Piotr Lisek were among those to clear the automatic qualifying height of 5.70m however.

“It is devastating,” said Coppell. “I was hoping that I could come in and do myself justice and I haven’t done that. I did a couple of jumps in warm up and if I had continued in the competition it would have just been dangerous. I would have come away with worse than what I have now and it just wasn’t worth it. I’ll come back stronger for it.”

Check out the dedicated Doha 2019 section on our website here.

American creates historic and emotional moment for her country at IAAF World Champs in Doha and sends inspirational message to fellow female throwers

DeAnna Price became the first American woman to win a world outdoor throws title after sealing hammer gold with a 77.54m effort. The 26-year-old dropped to her knees at the end of the contest, broke into tears, hugged runner-up Joanna Fiodorow of Poland and draped the US flag around her shoulders.

Price led the world rankings coming into the championships with a North American record of 78.24m, but she says her form dipped drastically earlier in the year to the extent she was even thinking of quitting.

“All my numbers dropped in training,” she said. “I thought ‘do I keep going til Tokyo 2020 or do I retire?’ There was a lot of crying and pain. But myself and my husband (and coach) decided to keep going.”

She is now glad she continued and she hopes her victory will send a message to female throwers that “women can be strong and beautiful”.

Talking openly about her see-sawing weight, Price explained she was an 800m runner who weighed 145lb at school and a talented softball player in Missouri. She ballooned to 275lb and, she remembers, “I was really big and couldn’t move fast”.

But inspired by the Scottish hammer coach Stewart Togher, who deliberately cajoled her with taunts of ‘you’re too fat’, she found herself haunted by his friendly jibes and trimmed to 228lb and her performances improved as she finished ninth at Rio 2016 and eighth in London 2017.

“I did track and field to stay in shape for softball originally,” she remembers. “I got handed a hammer aged 16 and didn’t even know what it was.

“First time I used it I accidentally hit myself on the head with the handle and dropped it and said, ‘I’m never using this again’. But softball was taken out of the Olympics so I thought I’d take this track and field thing a go.”

On her ‘strong and beautiful’ message, she added: “You can have the best of both worlds. I’ve been strong, I’ve been smaller and I’ve been bigger. I’ve had all sides.”

Rarely have three medallists at a global championship shown such friendliness toward each other either. Fiodorow was delighted with her PB of 76.35m, while Zheng Wang of China was also happy with bronze after throwing 74.76m and the trio were all smiles in their press conference.

World hammer champion DeAnna Price says “women can be strong and beautiful”. She is pictured here with runner-up Joanna Fiodorow and bronze medallist Zheng Wang. #IAAFDoha2019 pic.twitter.com/ZkSuwdczyF

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 28, 2019

“Silver and a PB but maybe next time it’s going to be better,” Fiodorow smiled as she threw down a good-natured challenge to Price.

“This is like a family,” said Wang. “The other girls are so friendly and happy. I don’t feel nervous when we compete because the environment is so good.”

The contest for Olympic medals will not be easy, though, as world record-holder Anita Wlodarczyk is expected to return after a knee injury kept her out of this championship. Wlodarczyk is working for television in Doha and Fiodorow said: “I am sure she will come back well next year to defend her Olympic title.”

Young American storms to 100m gold in Doha as Gatlin has to settle for second

Christian Coleman produced a stunning performance to become 100m world champion in Doha but, for the second championships in succession, the fastest man on the planet is a figure who is followed by controversy.

The 23-year-old was a clear and impressive winner of the showpiece final as he clocked a world-leading 9.76 (0.6m/sec) to finish ahead of fellow American and defending champion Justin Gatlin’s 9.98 and the personal best 9.90 of Canadian Andre de Grasse.

European champion Zharnel Hughes, the sole Briton to reach the final, was sixth in 10.03.

Coleman, the world indoor 60m champion, has been a class apart from his competitors in the Qatari capital and was the only man to break 10 seconds on the way to the final (he ran 9.98 in the opening day heat and 9.88 in the semi-final).

Yet ever since the US Anti-Doping Agency charged him with missing three drugs tests within 12 months – a charge since withdrawn – the reputation of the man many had previously seen as the new global star of athletics has undoubtedly been damaged.

“I wanted to come out here and compete to the best of my ability. The road to success is never just going to be straight. You’re going to have ups and downs, bumps and bruises along the way.” Comment from Christian Coleman after his world 100m win in Doha #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/FZ6WrWd7m5

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 28, 2019

Like Gatlin, booed in London due to his doping past when winning world gold two years ago ahead of his successor, Coleman now has to spend most of his time answering questions about matters other than his sprinting prowess.

That is a great pity given how good he is at his day job. Coleman has never run quicker than he did in the Khalifa Stadium, his time puts him sixth on the world all-time list, and he rose to an occasion preceded by an elaborate light show which saw the competitors’ names and faces emblazoned across the track as they were introduced.

South Africa’s Commonwealth champion Akani Simbine reacted fastest to the gun but it was soon clear who would cross the line first as 37-year-old Gatlin, who made it through from the semi-final as a fastest loser, had to settle for second.

“I’ve been blessed with incredible talent and tonight I was able to show it,” said Coleman. “Being able to come and compete here and run in this race is a dream. I have been working incredibly hard and this just makes it all worthwhile.”

Coleman has gone to great lengths to defend himself but, asked if it had been difficult to handle the attention which surrounds him, he added: “I wouldn’t say it’s been difficult, more disheartening. I feel like logic will prevail in these situations.”

Hughes was at a loss to explain why his body did not respond the way he wanted it to, revealing he felt light-headed as the gun sounded.

“It wasn’t the best race unfortunately for me tonight but hey, congratulations to the winners and the medallists and all the best to them,” he said.

“My body wasn’t feeling up for it. When I pushed out, I just wasn’t feeling myself. I was all over the place and I lost my form and I’m not happy with that, but I live to fight another day.”

Britain’s Adam Gemili took to social media to post a picture of him appearing to finish second in his semi-final, but was adjudged to be third in 10.13 and so missed out on the final.

Team-mate Ojie Edoburun, competing at his first world championships, was sixth in his race with 10.22.

Men’s 100m final stats

Christian Coleman      9.76 WL PB               0.128 (reaction time)
Justin Gatlin                9.89                             0.148
Andre De Grasse         9.90 PB                      0.140
Akani Simbine            9.93 SB                        0.117
Yohan Blake                9.97                             0.142
Zharnel Hughes           10.03                           0.119
Filippo Tortu               10.07 SB                      0.158
Aaron Brown               10.08                           0.155

Fraser-Pryce issues a statement of intent

The women’s 100m will be hotly contested and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wasted no time in throwing down the gauntlet to her sprint rivals by winning the opening qualifying heat in 10.80 (-0.2), the fastest time ever recorded at this stage of the competition in the IAAF World Championships.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith was third-fastest overall in winning heat four with 10.96 (-0.1), while 2017 silver medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou clinched heat two with 10.85 (-0.3).

Olympic champion and world leader Elaine Thompson also eased through to tomorrow’s semi-final stage in winning heat three with 11.14 (-0.4), while two-time 200m world champion Dafne Schippers progressed with 11.17 (-0.3) from heat six.

Britain’s Daryll Neita produced a personal best of 11.12 (-0.3) to come second in heat two and qualify automatically, while her team-mate Imani Lansiquot’s 11.31 (-0.3) was enough to see her get through from heat six, though Asha Philip does not join them following a run of 11.35 (-0.4) in heat three.

“I’ve run a PB and I know I could have gone a lot faster,” said Neita. “It was a good first run out but I’ve got a lot more to come.”

Warholm waltzes into 400m hurdles final 

Defending champion Karsten Warholm was completely untroubled in qualifying fastest for Monday’s 400m hurdles final.

The Norwegian European record-holder eased down as he clocked 48.28 to win the second race, while Brazilian Alison dos Santos ran 48.35 to win the opener and American Rai Benjamin and home favourite Abderrahman Samba both progressed from the third semi-final with times of 48.52 and 48.72 respectively.

Commonwealth champion Kyron McMaster did make it through but his path was not smooth, having to appeal a disqualification after his run of 48.40.

Chris McAlister’s world championships adventure came to an end, though he gave everything he could in clocking a PB of 49.18.

“It was an incredible experience out there,” said the Briton. “Stuck out in lane nine, I had to get out hard and I saw some of the boys really early and I thought ‘I have got to keep going here, I have got to push all the way through’ and I did that, stormed through for a PB which was a great feeling.

“I am so motivated now to get back into winter and keep trying for Tokyo. Lots of hard work to go but we are almost there now.”

Records fall in mixed relay heats

A small slice of athletics history was made with a first IAAF World Championships appearance for the 4x400m mixed relay.

The first qualifying heat of two for tomorrow’s final produced further landmarks, with the USA team winning in a world record of 3:12.42 and the British line-up of Rabah Yousif, Zoey Clark, Emily Diamond and Martyn Rooney finishing fourth but progressing with a European record of 3:12.80.

.@EmilyDiamond11 talks to @euancrumley after the GB team secure a spot in the mixed 4x400m relay final #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/9pexPP1IM1

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 28, 2019

Poland took heat two in 3:15.47, while Jamaica, Bahrain, Brazil, India and Belgium were the other nations to qualify.

“I loved it,” said Diamond of the contest. “I always love relays. I have been part of the relay programme for a fair few years now. I loved taking part and it is another opportunity to represent your country and it was really fun being part of the team today and something a bit different. Hopefully we can go out there again tomorrow and really fight for a medal.”

CONCORD, N.C. – Chase Briscoe will begin his pursuit of a second-straight victory on the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL from the pole on Saturday afternoon.

Briscoe, wheeling the No. 98 Ford Mustang, earned the first pole of his NASCAR Xfinity Series career at the same track where he earned his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory one year ago.

The 24-year-old Indiana native circulated the 2.28-mile, 17-turn course in 83.232 seconds for a speed of 100.346 mph to earn the right to lead the field to the green flag during the Drive for the Cure 250.

“This is a really good way to start off trying to go back to back,” said Briscoe, who sits seventh in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff standings. “The problem is now, we can’t go any further forward, so we have to try to stay up there and protect.

“Last year, our strategy was a bit different with me not being in the playoffs, but now we have the best track position and we’ll try to hold it. I’m really proud of all our guys and if we could win again today, it would be pretty special.”

Tyler Reddick qualified second in his No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, followed by Briscoe’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Cole Custer in fourth. A.J. Allmendinger, making his final start of the season for Kaulig Racing, completed the top-five in qualifying.

Playoff drivers make up the first four starting positions in Saturday’s race.

Canadian Alex Labbe, making his eighth start of the season, qualified an impressive sixth in the No. 90 Chevrolet. Playoff driver Justin Allgaier, Jeremy Clements, playoff driver Justin Haley and Will Rodgers.

Christopher Bell missed one of the chicanes during the last qualifying session and was unable to set a competitive time, forcing him to start 11th.

Noah Gragson advanced to the final round of qualifying, but chose not to turn a lap in the final session because he was in a backup car and would be forced to start the race from the rear regardless of where he qualified.

Drive for the Cure 250 Starting Lineup

1. Chase Briscoe
2. Tyler Reddick
3. Austin Cindric
4. Cole Custer
5. A.J. Allmendinger
6. Alex Labbe
7. Justin Allgaier
8. Jeremy Clements
9. Justin Haley
10. Will Rodgers
11. Christopher Bell
12. Noah Gragson
13. Ryan Truex
14. John Hunter Nemechek
15. Brandon Jones
16. Preston Pardus
17. Gray Gaulding
18. Tommy Joe Martins
19. Lawson Aschenbach
20. Josh Williams
21. Timmy Hill
22. Harrison Burton
23. Michael Annett
24. Ray Black Jr.
25. Ryan Sieg
26. Stephen Leicht
27. Garrett Smithley
28. Josh Bilicki
29. J.J. Yeley
30. Joe Nemechek
31. David Starr
32. Cody Ware
33. Joey Gase
34. B.J. McLeod
35. Brandon Brown
36. Vinnie Miller
37. Chad Finchum
38. Bayley Currey

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship had two more surprise leaders Saturday, with Victor Perez and Matthew Southgate out in front on 20 under par after the third round.

Perez shot an 8-under 64 at Kingsbarns while Southgate returned a 7-under 65 at St. Andrews, leaving them two shots clear of Paul Waring after his 7-under 65 at Carnoustie.

None of those players are in the top 100 of the world rankings, with Southgate as low as No. 300.

The first-round leader, Justin Walters, is ranked No. 444 and the second-round leader, Matthew Jordan, is No. 292.

Every golfer has now played 18 holes at the three Scottish courses. The 60 players to make the cut will return to the Old Course for the final round of the pro-am event on Sunday.

Perez, a Scotland-based Frenchman who is ranked No. 184, has had rounds of 64-68-64 as he goes for a first European Tour victory in his rookie season, having graduated from the Challenge Tour last year.

Southgate is making his 140th appearance on tour and the closest he has come to a win was a share of second place at the Irish Open in 2017.

American golfer Tony Finau, one of the highest-ranked players in the field at No. 14, shot 66 at the Old Course and was tied for fourth on 17 under.