Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.sports From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: sports Mon, Apr 13 1992 Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 05:42:38 EDT Message-ID: 04-13 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update April 13, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network COUPLES CLAIMS THE 56TH MASTERS: Fred Couples became the first U.S. player to win the Masters in five years, shooting a final-round 70 to beat Raymond Floyd by two strokes. With rounds of 69-68-67-70, Couples' 275 tied Seve Ballesteros for the lowest score since Floyd tied Jack Nicklaus' record of 271 in 1976. "This was the next plateau for him to reach," Floyd said of Couples. Corey Pavin finished third. WATER COULD HAVE SUNK COUPLES: Fred Couples' victory margin over Raymond Floyd in the Masters was two strokes, but it also was a matter of inches on the water-guarded 12th hole. His 8-iron shot hit into the bank about four feet above the water and kicked back - but stopped a foot short. "I got the biggest break of my life," Couples said. "I don't know what would have happened if the ball went in the water." CAPITALS TOP DEVILS: The last two NHL playoff spots were decided Sunday when the N.Y. Islanders beat Toronto 6-2, clinching for Minnesota, and Winnipeg won a spot after it beat Calgary 4-3. Elsewhere: Quebec 1, Boston 1, OT; Hartford 4, Philadelphia 2; Buffalo 3, Montreal 1; Detroit 2, Chicago 1; Washington 4, New Jersey 3, OT; Edmonton 6, San Jose 4; St. Louis 1, Minnesota 1, OT; Los Angeles 6, Vancouver 1. FANS STAY HOME: Hockey fans across the country showed up disguised as empty seats as the NHL resumed play Sunday after a 10-day strike. At a half-empty New Jersey-Washington game, Devils season ticketholder Joe Merzon said, "We feel we've been used." Toronto (11,249) and Boston (12,823) drew their smallest crowds of the season. The playoffs begin Saturday, and teams expect fans to return. SABATINI, COURIER WIN: Defending champion Gabriela Sabatini defeated Steffi Graf 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 Sunday in the final of the Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island, Fla. At Tokyo, Jim Courier celebrated his return to the No. 1 ranking by defeating Richard Krajicek 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in the final of the Japan Open. PISTONS DOWN KNICKS: The Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks played the lowest-scoring National Basketball Association game in 37 years Sunday, with the Pistons winning 72-61 in Auburn Hills, Mich. Detroit shot 38% and New York 30.7%. In other NBA games: Milwaukee 94, Philadelphia 90; Cleveland 114, Washington 91; Portland 123, San Antonio 97; Boston 128, Charlotte 102; Seattle 126, Minnesota 116. YOUNG FALLS SHORT: Boston's Matt Young didn't give up a hit, but did allow seven walks as the Cleveland Indians beat the Red Sox 2-1 in the first game of a double-header Sunday. Since the game was in Clevelnd, the Indians didn't bat in the bottom of the ninth, meaning no no-hitter for Young. A pitcher must go at least nine innings for it to be an official no-hitter. Boston won the second game 3-0. YANKEES REMAIN UNDEFEATED: The New York Yankees improved to 5-0 with a 5-1 win over the winless Detroit Tigers Sunday. Detroit fell to 0-6. The Yankees are two wins short of their best-opening streak in history, which came in 1933. In other AL games: Toronto 3, Baltimore 1; California 13, Milwaukee 9; Chicago 6, Oakland 4; Seattle 2, Kansas City 1; Texas 4, Minnesota 3. SHEFFIELD POWERS PADRES TO WIN: Gary Sheffield homered and drove in a career-high five runs, including the ninth-inning game-winner, as the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 for their third consecutive victory. In other NL games: Pittsburgh 6, Philadelphia 1; Montreal 8, New York 2; Chicago 4, St. Louis 2; Atlanta 6, San Francisco 2; Cincinnati 5, Houston 4. CONNER MUST WIN: Dennis Conner must sail his Stars & Stripes to victory Monday against Kanza in a one-race sailoff in the 1992 America's Cup defender trials, or be eliminated. Kanza withdrew from Sunday's contest against stablemate America 3 because of mechanical problems, setting up Monday's race. ALLISON WINS FIRST UNION 400: Davey Allison, who required physical therapy all week for injuries incurred a week earlier, held off Rusty Wallace Sunday to win the First Union 400. "I'm giving out right now," Allison said after his 15th Winston Cup career win - dedicated to his grandfather, who died April 1. The victory, Allison's second this season, is the 11th in row for Ford since October. REYNOLDS MAY COMPETE: Butch Reynolds may compete while awaiting an arbitration panel's decision on his suspension from track and field, The Athletics Congress announced Sunday. Reynolds, the world record holder at 400 meters, was suspended in 1990 after a positive drug test. Reynolds appealed to TAC, which ruled in his favor, citing violations in the International Amateur Athletic Federation's drug testing protocol. 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Sports Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Sports Editor: Jason P. Smith. (919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM