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CHEBOYGAN — Jon Micoff is simply a beast at the Northern Michigan Open. In the almost 80-year history of Cheboygan’s prestigious golf tournament in August, no one has earned glory in the championship flight more than the Indian River native. NM OPEN PREVIEW: What to watch for at Cheboygan's 79th annual Northern Michigan OpenMICOFF BUILDS LEAD: Jon Micoff has big lead for last round of Northern Michigan OpenOn Sunday, in front of a packed crowd on the 18th hole at the Cheboygan Golf & Country Club, Micoff calmly tapped in his final putt and won a record fifth Open championship, making it victories in 2009, 2011, 2017, 2024 and 2026. “This one means a lot — they all mean a lot,” Micoff said after his win. “Going into the week I figured I had a good chance because I’ve been playing well."It was a dominant showing from start to finish for Micoff, who opened a four-shot lead by firing a 6-under 64 in Saturday’s first round, which featured a stretch of 5-under on holes 7-11, including an eagle on No. 7. “(That eagle gave me a ton of momentum) because Kasey (Hocquard) was 3-under through five or six or something like that, and I was maybe at one or two-under, and then I started making a couple birdies and made that eagle, and then I started rolling,” Micoff said. “I birdied 10 and 11, and I was just feeling it there.” Micoff pushed his score up to 8-under in Sunday’s round, and while he had some bogeys down the stretch, it was enough to earn title No. 5, as he finished with a two-day total of 140 (6-under) after a 70 on Sunday. It was a satisfying triumph for Micoff, who said that falling short to PJ Maybank III in last year’s Open was motivation.“Playing with PJ, he was playing lights out in that final round last year,” Micoff said. “He just showed me some spots where I needed to improve and things I needed to do. I’m not perfect at all, but he kind of pushed me in the right direction of what I had to work on to get better.” Doing his best to make things interesting was Hocquard (138), whose superb final round of 66 included a birdie on the 18th, an emotional moment for the 2007 and 2008 Open winner who lost his mother, Paula, who passed away in June. An impressive birdie on the last secured a runner-up showing for one of the Open’s greatest players. “That was the first time coming up 18 without (my mom) watching — and I was choking back tears knowing that she wasn’t going to be there to give me a hug,” Hocquard said, fighting back tears. “I was happy to make the birdie and finish strong and do what I could.” Rounding out the top five were Eric Jimenez (third, 142), Zak Knoll (fourth, 144) and Kyle Parsons (fifth, 146). Here’s winners from each other flight at the 79th edition of the Northern Michigan Open: Championship Flight 1. Jon Micoff — 64-70 (134) 2. Kasey Hocquard — 72-66 (138) 3. Eric Jimenez — 68-74 (142) 4. Zak Knoll — 74-70 (144) 5. Kyle Parsons — 74-72 (146) First Flight 1. Joe Kosanke — 76-74 (150) Second Flight 1. Kasey Lofgren — 79-72 (151) Third Flight 1. Darin Dingman — 82-76 (158) Fourth Flight 1. Don Fobean — 87-81 (168) Fifth Flight 1. Brett Merritt — 89-84 (173) Sixth Flight 1. Shawn Mankin — 93-86 (179) Seventh Flight 1. Greg Elliott — 101-97 (198) Senior Championship Flight 1. Jon Kozlowski — 77-77 (154) Senior First Flight 1. Willie Josephson — 86-84 (170) Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Jon Micoff rolls, claims fifth Northern Michigan Open championship

Isiah Pacheco came to Detroit with a reputation for running angry.Drew Petzing has seen exactly that so far.The Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator offered a glowing assessment of Pacheco’s start to training camp, praising not only his physical running style but the way he approaches every practice rep.“He’s been awesome,” Petzing said. “It’s the way he approaches the job, how physical and tough he is, how hard he practices and how much he cares. He can have an unbelievable practice, but if there’s one repetition he didn’t execute exactly the way he wanted, he beats himself up over it. He’s really hard on himself. I think that’s contagious. He has been fun to work with, and I’m excited to see that continue.”That is strong praise for a veteran back who joined Detroit this offseason after spending his first four NFL seasons with Kansas City.Pacheco Gives Detroit a Different Kind of RunnerPacheco, 27, enters his first season with the Lions after rushing for 462 yards and one touchdown on 118 carries in 13 games in 2025, averaging 3.9 yards per attempt. He also caught 19 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown.His career résumé is more impressive than last year’s numbers alone suggest.Across four seasons with the Chiefs, Pacheco rushed for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. He also added 88 receptions for 554 yards and three scores while becoming a two-time Super Bowl champion.Detroit did not bring him in to replace Jahmyr Gibbs.The Lions brought him in because he offers something different.Gibbs provides elite explosiveness and versatility. Pacheco brings a bruising, downhill element that can punish defenses between the tackles.Petzing Loves the Physical MentalityOne practice rep apparently captured exactly what Petzing wants from his running game.“It’s huge,” Petzing said. “There was contact probably a yard or a yard and a half past the line of scrimmage, and it ended up being a nine-yard run. To me, that’s what the running game is about. It’s a physical mentality. Football is a violent sport. When you have players like that with the ball in their hands, it gets everybody else on the field excited.”That is classic Pacheco.He has built his NFL identity around running through contact and refusing to go down on first contact.For Petzing, that style affects more than the running back room. A back carrying defenders can energize the offensive line, receivers and sideline.That is exactly the kind of tone Detroit wants offensively.Pacheco Could Be Valuable Behind GibbsThe Lions have already made it clear that Gibbs will be their featured back in 2026.Pacheco still has a significant role to play.Detroit needs someone capable of absorbing carries, handling short-yardage situations and keeping Gibbs fresh without forcing the offense to completely change its identity.Pacheco fits that job well.He also brings legitimate postseason experience and a proven track record of handling meaningful snaps. In 10 career playoff games, he has rushed for 547 yards and four touchdowns while adding 142 receiving yards.For a Lions team with championship aspirations, that experience carries value.Bottom LineDrew Petzing could not have been much more complimentary of Isiah Pacheco’s start to training camp.The veteran running back has impressed Detroit with his toughness, practice habits and physical mentality.That combination makes him an intriguing complement to Jahmyr Gibbs.Gibbs may be Detroit’s bell cow, but Pacheco gives the Lions another runner who can turn a one-yard collision into a nine-yard gain.And judging by Petzing’s comments, that is exactly what Detroit hoped it was getting.

People walk on a sandbar underneath the Danube's Margareth Bridge in downtown Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday Aug. 5, 2026, as the river, which runs through 10 European countries, has receded never-before-seen low water levels. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)2026-08-10T02:07:55Z BERLIN (AP) — The heat waves roiling Western Europe this summer toppled an average temperature record for the June-July period set in 2022, according to the European climate agency Copernicus.The extreme heat began in May and has contributed to major wildfires, prolonged drought and new national temperature records across the region, as well as thousands of projected heat-related deaths.Globally, so far this is the third-hottest year, behind 2024 and 2025, climate statistics show. But 2026 still has time to catch up. Thanks to the one-two punch of accelerated human-caused global warming and a supersized El Niño, a periodic warming of parts of the Pacific that leads to temperature variations around the globe, there’s an increasing chance that by the end of the year, 2026 could become the hottest year on record, beating out 2024 — or at least come close, scientists said. Last month saw the highest average sea surface temperature ever recorded for July across the extra-polar oceans, or the oceans free of seasonal sea ice, Copernicus said. That was partially fueled by developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific, the service said. The new average record for July is 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.73 degrees Fahrenheit), which beat the 2023 record of 20.89 C (69.60 F).But last month’s average surface air temperature globally was 16.90°C (62.42 F), making it only the joint second warmest July on record and tied with July 2024, Copernicus reported. In Western Europe, meanwhile, the average temperature record for the June-July period hit 21.62°C (70.92 F), Copernicus said. Read More “Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over western Europe, the extreme temperatures also amplified widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. “This is a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another.” STEFANIE DAZIO Dazio covers Northern Europe from Berlin for The Associated Press. She previously covered crime and criminal justice from Los Angeles.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and pinch-hitter Austin Hays connected for a two-run shot in his first at-bat with San Diego as the Padres beat the AL West-leading Houston Astros 7-2 on Sunday.Jackson Merrill and Gavin Sheets also went deep for the Padres, who took two of three in the series and remained one game out of a National League playoff spot. Randy Vásquez and three relievers combined on a two-hitter to help the Padres to their 12th victory in 16 games. Vásquez (8-6) pitched five solid innings, retiring his final 10 batters after allowing Daulton Varsho's two-run homer with two outs in the second. It was Varsho's eighth home run this season and first since being acquired from Toronto before the trade deadline last Monday. The Padres began their comeback in the bottom of the inning when Merrill homered to straightaway center field off Cristian Javier (1-3). It was Merrill's 18th. Tatis hit a 421-foot drive to the third level of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner with two outs in the fourth to give San Diego a 4-2 lead. It was his 11th. Sheets greeted reliever AJ Blubaugh with a leadoff shot to right in the sixth. It was his 15th.Hays, signed earlier in the day, batted for Sheets in the eighth and homered to left off Bryan King. It was his second. Vásquez held the Astros to two hits with one strikeout and no walks. Up nextAstros: RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-0, 2.84 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday night's series opener at San Francisco, which will counter with RHP Blade Tidwell (0-0, 3.18).Padres: RHP Casey Mize (4-7, 3.40 ERA) makes his first home start since being acquired from Detroit last Monday when he opposes Milwaukee RHP Logan Henderson (6-1, 2.70).___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Cristóbal Alfaro scored twice as Mexico retained its CONCACAF U-20 Championship soccer title with a 2-0 victory over the United States in the final on Sunday.The Mexican defender opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a powerful, close-range header from a set piece. Alfaro sealed the victory with another header in the 69th.“It’s a dream come true. Although I scored, this is a collective achievement. I thank the fans for their unconditional support,” Alfaro said in a post-match interview. “It was an incredible experience to win at home.”The U.S. team was reduced to 10 men just before halftime when captain Chris Applewhite received a red card after a VAR review for a foul on Hugo Camberos.Mexico finished the tournament unbeaten and only conceded one goal.Mexico and the U.S. were already assured of spots in next year's Under-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan ahead of the final. Mexico and the U.S. will also participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics by reaching the final.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

It was reported last week that former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson would be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor this season. The former Oklahoma Sooner is among the best players to ever wear a Vikings uniform and while he is honored by the team that drafted him in 2026, could there be a bigger honor on the horizon for him? Following the induction of the Hall of Fame class of 2026, all eyes are now on 2027. Within that class are several prominent players, some of whom will be first ballot selections, and among them is Adrian Peterson. First-time eligibles for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2027 include Rob Gronkowski, Ben Roethlisberger, Adrian Peterson, Richard Sherman, Cam Newton, Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, Andrew Whitworth, Alex Mack, Gerald McCoy and Eric Weddle. pic.twitter.com/uNomVfDDJ5— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 8, 2026The Vikings have 23 players associated with them in the Hall of Fame. The last player to enter the halls of Canton, Ohio, was Jared Allen in 2025. Allen was a teammate of Peterson, so it is possible he could be joined by him, and allow fans to look back with a smile knowing that while a Super Bowl was never achieved, they know they watched some special players. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: A Vikings legend will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2027

The San Diego Padres signed outfielder Austin Hays to a Major League contract on Sunday afternoon. After San Diego signed Hays, Stammen almost predicted what would happen later in the game. The Padres manager said, "He's a good right-handed bench bat…one of those guys that, in his career, has hit lefty pitching really well. So he's somebody that we can bring in to pinch-hit against a tough lefty, or someone that we can start against a lefty."A few hours later, Hays was pinch-hit to face left-handed pitcher Bryan King and hit his second home run of the season in his first plate appearance with San Diego, almost exactly as Stammen predicted when explaining the free agent signing. Hays' number was called in the bottom of the eighth inning of Sunday night's game against the Houston Astros. There was a runner on first, and Hays hit a 371 ft. home run to left field to put his new San Diego team up 7-2, making quite the first impression.Hays replaced designated hitter Gavin Sheets. Hays bats right-handed while Sheets hits lefty. Manager Craig Stammen made the substitution call with Houston bringing on southpaw Bryan King in relief. The 31-year-old Hays spent time with the Chicago White Sox earlier this season. He only played in 12 games, making 44 plate appearances. Hays slashed .233/.250/.326 with one home run and seven RBI before suffering a hamstring injury that landed him on the IL.The outfielder dealt with multiple leg injuries and was moved to the 60-day IL. Hays had been nearing a return, but he was designated for assignment on August 5.

Former three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons is the latest free agent looking to make an NBA comeback, as former first-round picks Mario Hezonja and Lonnie Walker IV have returned to the United States and secured NBA contracts.Simmons, an LSU product, experienced plenty of success on the biggest stages with the Philadelphia 76ers, making an All-NBA Third Team and two All-Defensive Teams. At his peak, the Australian guard, once compared to NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, averaged 16.4 points, eight assists, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 0.6 blocks.According to Andscape, Simmons is feeling the "best he's felt in years" and has already received an invite to training-camp from one team. Simmons, who last played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024-25 season, is open to signing for the minimum. Having just turned 30, Simmons offers an intriguing low-risk, high-reward option as teams put the finishing touches on their roster before the season tips off in late October.This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Report: Several teams interested in three-time All-Star eyeing NBA comeback