Today marks a new beginning for Audacy’s sports talk brand based in Houston, Texas. For 32 years, SportsRadio 610 has been known as Houston’s sports talk leader. But today, the brand and signal are forever changed as Audacy officially launches 95.7 The Fan with the kickoff of the Houston Texans’ 25th season set to begin. A moment that was in the works for years under the leadership of Brand Manager Parker Hillis.
“The timing ended up being perfect because of our amazing partnership with the Houston Texans,” said Parker Hillis, brand manager of 95.7 The Fan. “For us to start our new era at the start of an incredible era for them, it’s poetic for us. It made all the sense in the world to share in that moment with them. It’s football Christmas for us and the perfect storm in putting this all together.”
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95.7 The Fan is the latest example of Audacy ensuring the company’s top sports talk outlets are being served to an FM audience. The station serves as Audacy’s 23rd sports talk brand on the FM dial, with several joining the ranks beginning this year in Chicago, Buffalo and Los Angeles.
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For Hillis, who’s been serving as brand manager of 95.7 The Fan since May 2022, the shift to FM has been a long time in the making.
“It’s ultimately been a really long process. I’ve been lobbying for the move since day one when I began,” said Hillis. “We’ve been putting the pieces in place for eighteen months to two years. It was a slow process because it wasn’t a question if we were ready. It was a question of where do we go regarding the brand and signal.”
A Long Road To FM
While discussions had taken place over several years, the shift to FM did not become a realistic possibility until recently. Hillis said recent changes in Audacy management helped change that. The company’s increased focus on building sports talk brands on FM also played a key role. Those shifts moved the conversation from a possibility to a potential reality.
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Finally, the moment came when approval was granted. For Hillis, it was a special moment to get across the finish line.
“The hardest part for me was keeping it quiet and under wraps for a handful of months,” noted Hillis. “I knew how exciting it was going to be for my team. Six months ago, I noticed the tides beginning to turn. To get the confirmation it was happening about three months ago was exciting.”
The opportunity for a legacy brand to shift to FM is unique. With that goal in mind following his arrival in Houston four years ago, Hillis approached building the brand in preparation for when the opportunity would arrive. While the Houston market does have sports talk on the FM dial, Hillis says the market desired more.
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“For Houston, this is a gamechanger. I felt for a long time this market has been desperately in need for a true full market FM sports brand. We have such a rabid fanbase, that the market has been underserved,” said Hillis. “We’ve been operating as a station that was ready to go on the FM dial. We were just waiting for the opportunity by being FM ready. Had there been one, we probably would already be there.”
While the branding is evolving around the new FM signal, the station will retain its legacy 610 AM position. That preserves more than three decades of familiarity among Houston sports fans. Hillis and Audacy followed a similar path by keeping the AM signal alongside the shift to FM.
Hillis noted that over the past several months, research with focus groups showed that while the shift to FM was desired, a section of the audience still preferred what they’ve always known.
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“The AM represents a handful of things with us. First and foremost, a level of consistency. It didn’t make sense to get rid of a legacy brand that’s been around for 32 years,” said Hillis. “We’ve received some feedback where maybe ten percent still prefer listening to their sports talk on the AM dial. There’s something nostalgic about that, and that’s really cool.”
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A Fresh Look
He also noted that having the brand on both AM and FM creates opportunities to eventually split the brands. In addition, that approach could provide additional room for growth. Hillis said there are currently no plans for another rights deal on either dial. However, retaining the AM signal provides Audacy with additional options.
Unlike other Audacy sports talk brands shifting to FM, 95.7 The Fan is not just shifting to the FM band but also rebranding as The Fan. Moreover, the brand is synonymous with Audacy, stemming from WFAN in New York City. To date, 95.7 The Fan will be the 13th Audacy sports talk brand using The Fan branding.
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“Over time we just got generically lumped in with the casual listener as ‘Sports 610.’ There hasn’t been a ton of separation. To us, there’s a power to having a unique and strong brand name like ‘The Fan’ or ‘The Ticket’ or ‘The Game.’ We had to determine what’s the value of SportsRadio 610 versus the value of a strong, well-regarded, more widespread sports brand name like ‘The Fan,’” explained Hillis.
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Of anything regarding the shift to FM, Hillis noted that in the final stages of planning, the conversation about shifting to ‘The Fan’ was the item that took the most time and effort.
“The Fan speaks to the foundation and philosophies of what our radio brand is. We are a voice for fans and a place they can come to connect. This station is a collection of Houston sports fans walking these halls,” said Hillis. “I’m sure there will be questions regarding why go with a brand name that exists around the country. For me, that brand speaks to who we are and it’s a bonus that we get to share that moniker with so many strong stations around the country.”
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With the rebrand comes a new look and a new logo as well. Hillis admits he’s not the most savvy graphic artist and admitted to using AI for early mockups of what he envisioned. In the end, Hillis said the logo was the element of this process he was most proud of. He noted every element of the logo has some tie to the Houston area, building on the connection the station has with the sports fans that encompass it.
“The light blue represents the city of Houston. The tile pattern is also an homage to the city as well,” said Hillis. “For a Houstonian that sees our logo, our hope and expectation is they see that light blue and tiles and know instantly this is Houston’s sports station. It’s a tip of the cap to the city.”
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Serving Space City
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Hillis says he doesn’t feel any added pressure with the switch to FM but instead approaches it as a unique opportunity. 95.7 The Fan is taking over an FM signal that was the cluster’s best-performing FM music brand in 95.7 The Spot.
Typically, when a sports talk station shifts to an FM signal, it replaces an underperforming music brand. Hillis credited The Spot’s successful run in attracting audiences and hopes to continue building upon that foundation.
“The Spot has been incredible. It’s been a powerhouse. Yes, it’s certainly a risk, but a risk that ultimately corporate and the building felt was taking for us. We believe in the power of the Houston sports audience,” said Hillis. “This is a statement that I believe that there is power in the sports talk brand unlike any other time in the past. That’s the opportunity in front of us… We’re stepping into big shoes, but it’s not pressure.”
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For Hillis, the launch of 95.7 The Fan represents more than a frequency change or a new logo. It is the culmination of a vision that began when he arrived in Houston and an opportunity to take a brand with more than three decades of history into its next chapter.
SportsRadio 610 will continue to live on the AM dial, preserving the identity and connection that generations of Houston sports fans have come to know. But on FM, 95.7 The Fan has the chance to introduce that connection to an even larger audience.
“I’m the most aggressive and optimistic person you’ll find about our product and our team. I fully expect us to win and be not just competing against the other sports stations in market, but the top stations across the demographic,” said Hillis. “I truly believe we have what it takes to be a number one station in men and adults… There’s a lot of buzz and we couldn’t be doing this at a better time.”
The timing only adds to the significance. As the Houston Texans begin their 25th season, 95.7 The Fan is beginning its first. For Hillis, that makes the launch feel less like an ending and more like the start of something much bigger.
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After 32 years as SportsRadio 610, Houston’s sports station now has a new frequency, a new identity and a new opportunity. The signal has changed. The mission hasn’t. The next era of Houston sports talk begins today.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
Shubman Gill and Dhananjaya De Silva (Agency Image)
India will begin their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on Saturday, August 15, with the first match set to take place in Galle.The series comes at an important stage for India’s Test side. While Gautam Gambhir’s tenure has brought major success in white-ball cricket, including the Champions Trophy in 2025, the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, India’s recent Test record has been a concern.India suffered home Test series whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa, which have dented their World Test Championship campaign. Their red-ball schedule has also been limited this year. The Test against Sri Lanka will be only India’s second Test match of 2026, after their clash against Afghanistan in June ended inside two-and-a-half days.India will be hoping for a stronger showing in Sri Lanka as they look to rebuild their Test momentum.
When will India vs Sri Lanka first Test start?
The first Test between India and Sri Lanka will begin on Saturday, August 15.The match is scheduled to start at 10 AM IST.
Where will India vs Sri Lanka first Test be played?
The opening Test will be played at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka.
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Where to watch India vs Sri Lanka Tests on TV in India?
The two-match Test series will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network in India. Coverage will be available in multiple languages.The series will also be available on DD Sports for viewers who have access to DD Free Dish.
Where to watch India vs Sri Lanka Tests online?
Fans who prefer to stream the matches can watch the India vs Sri Lanka Test series live on SonyLIV.
Dhananjaya De Silva (captain), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.With India looking to revive their Test fortunes and Sri Lanka aiming to make the most of home conditions, the two-match series promises an important red-ball challenge for both sides.
The ongoing legal battle between Joe Gibbs Racing, Spire Motorsports, and Chris Gabehart has taken another turn, with a hearing now scheduled to address the counterclaims filed against JGR. Renowned NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass reported on X that the heading on whether to dismiss those counterclaims is set for August 26.
Earlier this year, JGR filed its $8 million lawsuit against its former competition director Chris Gabehart after he left the team to join Spire as its chief motorsports officer. The team accused Gabehart of taking confidential team information and violating his obligations to the organization after leaving for a leadership position with Spire. The case has since expanded to include claims and counterclaims from all sides.
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Bob Pockrass on Thursday reported that a court date has been set to dismiss counterclaims filed by Spire and Gabehart and coach Joe Gibbs’ team.
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One of the counterclaims at the center of the upcoming hearing comes from Gabehart, who alleges that JGR did not pay him everything he was owed. Spire Motorsports has also filed counterclaims against JGR, with the team alleging that Coach Joe Gibbs’ team failed to reciprocate an arrangement involving car chief Cheddar Smith.
“A hearing on whether to dismiss counterclaims Chris Gabehart and Spire filed against JGR is set for Aug. 26. Gabehart claims include JGR didn’t pay him everything he’s owed, Spire claims JGR never reciprocated what it promised when Spire let car chief Cheddar Smith to go to 54.” Pockrass wrote.
A hearing on whether to dismiss counterclaims Chris Gabehart and Spire filed against JGR is set for Aug. 26. Gabehart claims include JGR didn’t pay him everything he’s owed, Spire claims JGR never reciprocated what it promised when Spire let car chief Cheddar Smith to go to 54.
JGR previously withdrew one of the allegations against Spire and Chris Gabehart
Last month, JGR released a statement noting that JGR withdraws their claim and acknowledged in a court filing that it “does not possess nonprivileged information sufficient to support the allegations.”
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In the filing, the JGR said:
“In discovery Spire Motorsports II, LLC (“Spire”) requested information supporting the allegations contained in paragraph 129 of the Second Amended Complaint. JGR responded to Spire’s request and concedes that it does not possess nonprivileged information sufficient to support the allegations contained in paragraph 129 of the Second Amended Complaint.”
The case is now moving toward a larger trial after legal teams have failed to reach an out-of-court settlement. U.S. District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez has scheduled a 9-day jury trial for the lawsuit to begin on February 1, 2027, right before the Daytona 500.
Paris Saint-Germain have reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign Ferran Torres, according to reports in French and Spanish outlets on Thursday evening. The forward, who scored the match-winner for Spain in the World Cup final, is expected to sign with the European champions for around €50 million.
France picked up another two medals at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, with Maxime Grousset coming second in the 200m butterfly final while Mary-Ambre Moluh was runner-up in the 50m backstroke.
At the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, France‘s Alice Finot was only beaten to another 3000m steeplechase title by Germany‘s Gesa Felicitas Krause. Later in the evening, home favourite Amy Hunt made it a sprint double by following up her 100m title with gold in Thursday’s 200m final.
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Davis Martin was ejected from Thursday’s matinee against the Cincinnati Reds after back-to-back wild pitches led to a benches-clearing altercation.
Reds Rookie of the Year frontrunner Sal Stewart, who homered in his first at-bat off Martin, was facing a 0-1 count when a pitch sailed over everyone’s head and hit the backstop.
Stewart looked at Martin immediately, but the Sox starter tapped his chest, indicating he didn’t mean for the wild pitch.
Davis Martin of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Rate Field on Aug. 13, 2026, in Chicago, Ill.(Getty Images)
However, Stewart took exception, and understandably so, when a 92-mph fastball came up and in on the very next pitch from Martin. If Stewart hadn’t moved quickly, the ball may have hit him right in the face. Instead, it just clipped the brim of his helmet for a hit-by-pitch.
From there, Stewart pointed the knob end of his bat at Martin, and it was clear he, at the very least, said “that’s twice.” Martin was still claiming he didn’t mean to do it, but Stewart’s Reds teammates didn’t care to hear his side.
MLB veteran Eugenio Suarez was among those shown on the broadcast running out to say his piece to Martin. The White Sox dugout, though, was quick to move as well.
White Sox catcher Edgar Quero was pivotal in the situation not getting out of control, as he popped up from his place behind home plate and stopped Stewart from walking toward his pitcher. Quero even walked down the first base line with Stewart as the situation unfolded.
After the tension dissipated, umpires reviewed the situation to see if Martin should be tossed from the game. Considering that both pitches were near Stewart’s head, umpires eventually made the decision to toss the White Sox starter before he could complete three innings.
Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds hits a home run during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 13, 2026.(Getty Images)
Stewart got the party started for the Reds at the beginning of the game, launching a home run on a hanging breaking ball by Martin into the left field seats. Some argued on social media that was the reason Martin may have been throwing those pitches intentionally, but it didn’t seem Stewart did anything extra after hitting the solo blast.
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Martin also allowed a two-run homer to Suarez later in that first frame, as the Reds quickly put up three runs on the White Sox. But at the time of Martin’s ejection, Chicago had scored four runs of their own to take the lead as the top of the third got underway.
Chicago, though, was forced to bring in Erick Fedde on emergency notice and Cincinnati made him pay. The Reds scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take an 8-4 lead. They would go on to win the game, 9-8, holding off the White Sox, who scored three runs in the eighth and ninth innings combined.
Davis Martin of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Rate Field in Chicago on Aug. 13, 2026.(Getty Images)
Stewart is having himself quite the 2026 campaign, as the first-time All-Star is now hitting .259 with an .811 OPS and 26 home runs after his 2-for-3 day at the dish.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Walbert Ureña allowed two hits in six innings, Mike Trout and Denzer Guzman led a 15-hit outburst with three singles and an RBI apiece, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 7-0 on Thursday night.
Josh Lowe added two hits and two RBIs, and Adam Frazier had two hits and an RBI for the Angels, who extended their win streak to three and amassed 10 or more hits in a game for the first time since July 8.
Ureña (8-8) struck out five and walked two while lowering his ERA to 2.67. The rookie right-hander has a 2.43 ERA in 18 games since May 1 and has allowed no more than one run in 13 of those starts. José Fermin, Tayler Saucedo and Sammy Peralta each threw a scoreless inning to complete the five-hitter.
With the loss, the Rangers (60-62) dropped out of the third wild card spot in the American League, half a game back of the Detroit Tigers (60-61). The Minnesota Twins (60-63), the Cleveland Guardians (59-63), the Toronto Blue Jays (59-64) and the Baltimore Orioles (58-63) all are within two games.
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Rangers starter Jacob deGrom, who has been battling a left hip and glute injury since the All-Star break, was pulled after two innings because of right triceps fatigue.
The 38-year-old right-hander escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the first but gave up two runs and five hits during a 32-pitch second — the first time deGrom (8-8) allowed five hits in an inning since Sept. 5, 2017, with the New York Mets.
Guzman sparked the Angels’ second-inning rally with a single. He went to third on Lowe’s double and scored on Frazier’s one-out single. Lowe tried to score from second on Frazier’s hit but was thrown out by left fielder Wyatt Langford. Wade Meckler singled and Trout hit an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.
The Angels broke open the game with four runs and six hits off Texas left-hander Jordan Montgomery in the fifth.
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Singles by Trout, Nolan Schanuel and Vaughn Grissom loaded the bases. Guzman drove in a run with an infield single, Lowe hit a two-run single and Jose Siri’s RBI groundout made it 6-0. Siri added an RBI single in the seventh.
Rangers: RHP Kumar Rocker (4-9, 4.46 ERA) opposes Athletics LHP Gage Jump (5-7, 4.46) on Friday night in West Sacramento.
Angels: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (3-5, 7.20 ERA) faces Royals RHP Seth Lugo (5-7, 4.41) on Friday night in Anaheim.
Amy Hunt is now halfway to an historic four European golds at one championships after completing a brilliant sprint double at Birmingham 2026 with 200m gold.
The 24-year-old claimed her second gold in four days by blitzing the field with a European lead time of 22.19.
Dina Asher-Smith was the last sprinter to double up at this competition eight years ago but could only manage bronze on this occasion.
The home hopefuls were in adjacent lanes and Asher-Smith got the better start around the bend as she sought a seventh European gold.
But Hunt reeled her compatriot in on the home straight as the domestic duel lived up to expectations in front of an improved crowd of more than 20,000 at the Alexander Stadium.
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“The 100 is the hardest mentally and the 200 is the hardest physically,” Hunt told the BBC. “I’ve had a lot of health things going on this year, some really low blood pressure, and the 200s have been really scary. I have been fainting after some of my 200s this year.
“I just had to go into that one, get on the bend and be really brave. It was an amazing race.”
Asher-Smith has now won nine European medals, putting her one shy of the all-time record, but this was the latest sign of a changing of the guard.
Hunt won gold in the 200m with GB teammate Dina Asher-Smith claiming bronze (PA)
Hunt retained her national 100m title by beating Asher-Smith on this track in June before dethroning her over the same distance on the opening night of these Championships.
Asher-Smith still leads the 200m head-to-head between the two but Hunt has come of age in the last 12 months and now set her sights on completing a remarkable quadruple as she looks ahead to the women’s and mixed 4x100m relays over the weekend.
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“This is becoming a magical week and one I will remember for the rest of my life,” she said. “There is no celebrating or champagne until Sunday night. I have a debt to the ladies, we have to come out here and show them who the best sprint nation is in Europe. It’s not over yet – I hope you’re not sick of my face.”
Asher-Smith said: “Obviously, I’m disappointed to have a bronze, but I think 10 years after my first one it is such an achievement to be in a place to come back year after year.
Asher-Smith has won nine European Championship medals – one away from the all-time record (Reuters)
“It doesn’t matter what’s going on in my life, I just want to continue to be one of the fastest women in the world. I’m happy to have done that and it is great to be part of a successful British team.”
The hosts’ pair finished either side of Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke, who won silver in a 22.28 national record.
Keely Hodgkinson kept her bid for a European hat-trick on track on a dramatic afternoon which saw her main rival Audrey Werro take a tumble – before being reinstated for the final.
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Hodgkinson won the second semi-final in 1:57.38, holding off Femke Broeders-Bol to safely advance to one of the most eagerly-awaited events of the week.
It was a far more serene race than the opening semi, which was dominated by Werro before she hit the deck on the final bend.
Keely Hodgkinson won her 800m semi-final to book a place in the final against rival Audrey Werro (PA)
Werro picked herself up to stumble over the finish line and a successful appeal means the 22-year-old, who holds this year’s world lead, will also be on the start line.
Hodgkinson was relieved to avoid the chaos and said: “You can’t worry about what happened to other people, but I hope she’s ok.
“The excitement makes me excited. I love a good challenge and I hope for a clean race with no falling over and no wind.”
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Scot Jemma Reekie took advantage of Werro’s slip to cross the line first and advance in 1:58.61.
Elsewhere, Mark English won Ireland’s first individual men’s gold medal at the European Championships as he finished first in the 800m.
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Cristiano Ronaldo is back at work. Just two days after confirming his marriage to long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez, the Portugal superstar returned to training with Al-Nassr and shared pictures from the session on social media with a simple caption: “Back.”The 41-year-old posted a series of images from his training session with the Saudi Arabian club, signalling his return to football after a brief break following his wedding.Ronaldo and Rodriguez announced their marriage on Tuesday, posting a picture of themselves holding hands and showing off their wedding rings. Ronaldo captioned his post with “C” and “G” separated by a heart emoji.The couple got married in a private civil ceremony in Cascais, a coastal town near Lisbon in Portugal. According to the public relations firm representing Ronaldo, the intimate ceremony was attended by their five children.
Ronaldo quickly back to business
Ronaldo’s return to training comes just days before Al-Nassr begin their domestic campaign on Saturday, with the Portuguese star wasting little time getting back into his football routine.He has been with Rodriguez for around a decade after the pair first met in Madrid. Their wedding came after years together in the public eye, with Rodriguez frequently accompanying Ronaldo at major milestones in his career.Ronaldo’s latest training pictures also mark his return to club football after a demanding FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with Portugal.The forward featured in what he had announced would be his final World Cup, but Portugal’s campaign ended in disappointment in the round of 16 after a late Mikel Merino goal gave Spain a 1-0 victory.The defeat brought an emotional end to Ronaldo’s World Cup career. Since making his tournament debut in 2006, he helped Portugal reach the semi-finals in Germany before they were eliminated in the round of 16 in 2010 and 2018. Portugal exited at the group stage in 2014 and reached the quarter-finals in 2022.Across six World Cups, Ronaldo played 27 matches — the second-most appearances by a player — and scored 11 goals.Despite Portugal’s early exit in 2026, Ronaldo had a productive individual campaign, scoring three goals in five appearances.
Tabitha Chawinga scored twice and sister Temwa Chawinga once as tournament outsiders Malawi beat Algeria 3-1 on Wednesday in Rabat to reach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
Cameroon will face the giant-killers in the deciding game after defeating hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties following a 0-0 draw after extra time.
Malawi are ranked 153rd in the world, 116 places below the pre-WAFCON favourites and record 10-time champions Nigeria, who bowed out in the quarter-finals.
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Debutants Malawi took advantage of Algeria’s Morgane Belkhiter red card for a foul on the last defender midway through the first half to build a 2-0 lead at the break.
Captain Tabitha Chawinga struck with an overhead kick on 33 minutes after a corner, and Temwa Chawinga rounded goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi to score one minute into added time.
Having scored twice, Malawi were also reduced to 10 players when Rose Kadzere was sent off for a studs-up tackle just before the break.
Algeria pulled one goal back on 60 minutes through Ikram Adjabi only for Tabitha Chawinga to restore the two-goal advantage with a solo goal after 76 minutes.
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Kansas City-based Temwa Chawinga has struck five goals in the marquee African women’s football tournament to be joint leading scorer. Tabitha from French club Lyon has netted four times.
After conceding a third time, there was no way back for Algeria, who must settle for the third-place play-off against Morocco on Saturday.
On Sunday, Malawi and Cameroon will do battle with a record $2 million first prize on the line.
In the later match, goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, who switched from being a forward because a coach believed her height would make her an outstanding shot-stopper, was the Cameroon heroine.
Scan Shannon Johnson’s scorecard from her quarterfinal match at the Massachusetts Women’s State Amateur on Thursday and one number will leap out at you: her 2 on the par-5 18th hole.
The rarest score in golf. A one-in-6 million shot, according to several published estimates.
But this story isn’t really about Johnson — it’s about her opponent, 19-year-old Lillian Guleserian, who is a rising sophomore at Penn State, where she plays on the women’s golf team. Guleserian, who is from Westwood, Mass., has had herself a nice summer. In early June, she finished 5th at the Women’s Southern GA Amateur, which she quickly followed up with a win at the New England Women’s Amateur Championship. Then, late last month, came a 3rd-place finish at the Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament.
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All of which is to say Guleserian was among the favorites when the 123rd Massachusetts Women’s Amateur got under way at Oak Hill CC, just west of Boston, earlier this week. Guleserian blazed through the two rounds of stroke-play qualifying, shooting 72-75 to finish 4th among the 32 players who advanced to match play. In her first-round match, she dusted her opponent, 7 and 6. In the Round of 16, more of the same: a 5-and-4 romp.
That set up Guleserian’s Thursday-morning quarterfinal showdown with Johnson, a five-time Massachusetts Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and also a five-time winner of the state stroke-play title. Early on, Guleserian cruised, building a 3-up lead through 12 holes. “Felt pretty good the whole match,” Guleserian told GOLF in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. “Then made a few mistakes.”
Those hiccups led to bogies on 15 and 16. When Guleserian and Johnson arrived on the 18th tee, Johnson had cut Guleserian’s lead to one. Johnson stepped in and laced a drive. Guleserian followed with a good one of her own but was 10 yards behind Johnson’s tee shot, meaning Guleserian would play from the fairway first.
Yardage: about 210 but playing more like 220.
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Club choice: 4-hybrid.
“I’d been going for that green pretty much all week, so I knew I felt pretty good there,” Guleserian said.
She hadn’t hit the green, though, with her nearest attempt creeping onto the fringe.
The shot came off low and hot and on a good line but, Guleserian thought, seemingly with not enough oomph. “I thought it was going to be short because it landed pretty short of the green,” she said.
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But the ball refused to quit. It bounced once, twice, three times on the slope in front of the green and, when it arrived on the putting surface, kept enough pace to keep rolling toward the pin. Ten feet . . . 20 feet . . . 30 feet . . .and here, on Mass Golf’s video of the shot that has been making the rounds on social media, you can hear two greenside voices exclaiming, “Oh my god!”
The witnesses sensed what was about to happen.
After another 10 or so feet of roll, the ball vanished into the hole.
An albatross.
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To win a state amateur match.
Back in the fairway, Johnson’s own second shot had suddenly become moot — but, in a stroke of scorekeeping weirdness, also conceded. A conceded albatross. It’s right there on the card, a pair of matching 2s on the 18th hole.
Two 2s on 18.
Mass Golf
We’d like to tell you that Guleserian rode her high into the finals. She didn’t. In her Thursday-afternoon semifinal match against Molly Smith, Guleserian lost, 5 and 4. “She was making a lot of putts,” Guleserian said of Smith.
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When Guleserian checked her phone afterward, the gravity of what she’d done on the final hole of her morning match hit her in the form of a crush of messages from friends and loved ones who’d seen the video. Those well-wishers knew the unlikeliness of what Guleserian had accomplished. Guleserian, of course, knows that, too.
“It’s crazy,” she said. “An albatross. I never thought I would get one.”
Ghana’s Black Queens have kept their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 hopes alive after coming from behind to defeat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in Casablanca.
Côte d’Ivoire took the lead just four minutes into the match when Inès Konan converted a penalty, leaving Ghana with an early setback to overcome. The Black Queens remained in the contest and went into half-time trailing by a single goal.
Ghana came out with greater determination after the break and found the equaliser in the 59th minute through Princess Marfo. The goal shifted the momentum in Ghana’s favour as the Black Queens pushed for a second.
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Their persistence was rewarded in the 72nd minute when Ghana were awarded a penalty. Josephine Bonsu stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to complete the comeback and put Ghana 2-1 ahead.
The result sends Ghana into the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 inter-confederation play-offs, keeping alive their hopes of returning to the tournament in Brazil.
For Ghana, the victory is a major response after their disappointing WAFCON quarter-final defeat to Malawi ended their hopes of automatic qualification. They now have another opportunity to fight for a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
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