*GOLF : PGA Tour rookie James Nitties finished with four consecutive birdies for a 5-under 65 and a share of the first-round lead with Ken Duke on Thursday in the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Nitties, who on his tour bio lists clubbing, girls and movies as his special interests, was 1 under through 14 holes and hopeful of getting one more birdie in his round. He then hit his approach at the 504-yard 15th to 5 feet, and his longest putt in the closing stretch was 12 feet. The 26-year-old Australian, who appeared on the Golf Channel’s “Big Break” series, finished second at the PGA Tour qualifying tournament last fall. … Karine Icher of France birdied her final hole to tie Hee Young Park of South Korea at 8-under 64 for the first-round lead at the LPGA Corning Classic in Corning, N.Y.
*TENNIS: Maria Sharapova was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by 39th-ranked Alona Bondarenko in the quarterfinals of the Warsaw Open. Sharapova was playing in her first singles tournament since being sidelined nearly 10 months after shoulder surgery. The Russian won her first two matches this week, but Bondarenko broke Sharapova’s serve five times. … John Isner of the United States pulled out of the French Open because of illness. The tournament begins Sunday in Paris.
*HORSE RACING : Kentucky Derby also-rans Chocolate Candy (fifth), Dunkirk (11th), Mr. Hot Stuff (15th) and Flying Private (19th) missed the Preakness but will be back to take on Mine That Bird in the Belmont on June 6. Other probable starters include Brave Victory, Charitable Man, Luv Gov, Miner’s Escape and Summer Bird, bringing the count to 11 3-year-olds if Rachel Alexandra is entered.
*NFL: Dre’ Bly signed a one-year deal with the 49ers, who moved quickly to fill the vacancy created by Walt Harris’ knee injury with perhaps the biggest name among defensive backs still available on the free agent market. … Just one day after the NFL decided to allow its teams to make deals with lotteries, the Patriots became the first to announce a licensing agreement. Other states said they were talking about sponsorships that could put NFL team logos on scratch-off tickets. … The Giants signed veteran offensive lineman Tutan Reyes. … Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf has been indicted by a Randall County, Texas, grand jury on drug and burglary charges.
*ALSO : Ronaldo will go on trial at a Brazilian sports tribunal for pulling the hair of a defender and pinching him in a Brazilian league match. … Russia’s Denis Menchov took the lead at the Giro d’Italia after winning the individual time trial in the 12th stage.
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EDITED BY BOB FOLTMAN FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES
