Holmes, CU baseball, NASCAR means summer's close

What could get much more American and summer-like than golf, baseball and stock car racing in February?

NASCAR is one of the few sports that have its premier event at the first of the season. That takes place this Sunday when the Daytona 500 is run.

This season's Sprint Cup, yes that's a change from last year's Nextel Cup, and the Nationwide Series, no longer the Busch Series, appear in the Feb. 14 sports section along with the list of Sprint Cup drivers and the previous winners at America's Greatest Race.

Beauford Sanders and his Campbellsville University Tigers are scheduled to begin their 2008 baseball season on Saturday.

I say, scheduled, since the weather this week hasn't been too cooperative and the renovations and new look of the Tiger field are somewhat behind schedule.

The Tigers' roster and schedule are in the Feb. 14 sports section.

Sanders' team is shooting for its fourth straight Mid-South Conference Tournament title and CU also won regular-season titles last year and in 2005.

Coach Shannon Wathen's Lady Tigers, which also has five championships (regular-season or post-season tourneys) begin their 2008 slate on the road next weekend at Martin Methodist.

John "J.B" Holmes' list of accomplishments for the year and remaining schedule are also in today's sports section.

Holmes, who was tied for second after the second day of last week's Pebble Beach Pro-Am, suffered seven bogeys on Saturday and birdied to finish the third day at even-par.

However, under the new PGA Tour rules, Holmes made the cut but did not qualify to play in Sunday's final round.

But, he still made more than $12,000 which kept him at No. 1 on the money earnings' list for the year and he also stayed atop the FedEx Cup points' standings.

If Holmes makes the cut at the Northern Trust Open this week at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., he will more than likely qualify for next week's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson.

The top 64-rated golfers in the world are eligible although some elect not to play due to injuries or other obligations. Entering this week's play, Holmes is rated No. 65.

Flip-flop for girls' Fifth Region site

The girls' Fifth Region Basketball Tournament has been moved to North Hardin next month. Nelson County, which is doing some school and gymnasium renovations, will host the tournament next March.

The boys' Fifth Region Tournament is at Hart County next month.