Big day for Oppenheim
Rob Oppenheim’s biggest day of golf in 2023 is today. He will be playing in the fourth and final round of the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School, Stage 2 in Valdosta, Ga.
The Andover product is currently tied for 11th after a stellar third round of 3-under 69, putting him 4-under overall.
The top 12 golfers advance to the final Stage 3 at TPC Sawgrass on Dec. 14. That is key because the top five at that event will get their PGA Tour cards for 2024.
We will update Oppenheim’s progress on my Twitter account, @BurtTalksSports.
Thanksgiving Day run growth
According to stats from Runsignup.com, the biggest US running day of the year in 2023 was Thanksgiving Day, with 920,761 people participating in 833 races across the country, raising more than $1.9 million for charities.
That represented record-shattering participation on the platform, with an increase of more than 160,000 compared to the previous record set in 2022.
The reason is, “Turkey Trots” are popping up and there is some growth, with the Feaster Five netting more than 1,500 more entries (nearly 8,000) last week.
Nifty returns to Methuen
After being a huge draw earlier in the fall, Bruins legend Rick Middleton will return to sign autographs in Methuen on Sunday, Dec. 10.
Middleton will be at the Methuen Monthly Sports Card Show at the VFW Hall on 26 River Street.
The autographs cost $15, with $5 for inscriptions and photo opportunities. Mail-ins cost $20.
He will be signing from 10 a.m. until noon. The card show, which includes 40 dealer tables, runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Admission is $2; under-9 free.
For more info contact Vic at 508-265-4440 or email him at vandreoli@comcast.net.
Niang on hot streak
Methuen native Georges Niang has been carving out a nice, consistent role with the Cleveland Cavaliers recently.
Over the last five games he has scored in double figures in four of them. The other he scored eight points.
He’s also had three games with six or more rebounds over that stretch, with the Cavs winning three of five games.
Font fights on Dec. 2
Haverhill resident Rob Font has a huge bout on the UFC card on Dec. 2, taking on No. 2 flyweight contender Deiveson Figueirdo, who is moving up to bantamweight to fight Font, who is ranked No. 8.
The bout is part of the main event in Austin, Texas, with lightweight contenders, No. 4 Beneil Dariush and No. 8 Arman Tsarukyan.
Font and Figueirdo are both coming off close losses.
Kattar may return in Atlantic City
Calvin Kattar‘s return to the octagon is coming in a few months with his team looking at a possible March main event in possibly Atlantic City.
Kattar appears to have fully recovered from an ACL tear in Oct. of 2022 after an awkward landing. One name that has popped up as a possible foe is No. 1 bantamweight contender Aljamain Sterling, who lost the bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley.
Sterling apparently wants to move to the 145-pound division to meet Kattar.