Sports briefs

GOLFSchwartzel leads Els, Singh, Allenby by shot

Five birdies were enough to put Charl Schwartzel among the leaders at the CA Championship at Doral after he posted a 67. He has a one-shot lead over Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Robert Allenby who shot 68. Els hit into the water with his approach on No. 18, Singh found the water off the tee and made double bogey and Allenby, who was 8 under through the first 12 holes finished with four straight bogeys. Phil Mickelson finished with a 71 and Camillo Villegas a 72.

HORSE RACING

'Rachel,' Zenyatta

to make return

Thoroughbred racing's marquee females are scheduled to make their 2010 debuts tomorrow. Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, will end a six-month layoff in the 1 1/16-mile New Orleans Ladies at the Fair Grounds. Zenyatta, in her first race since winning the Breeders' Cup Classic, will run in the 11/8-mile Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita.

NFLMurder conviction

Suspected gang member Willie Clark was found guilty of murder in the drive-by shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams after a New Year's Eve outing three years ago.

SOCCERPlayers vote to strike

Major League Soccer players voted to strike if a new labor contract isn't agreed to before the first season opener on March 25. The league's first collective bargaining agreement, a five-year deal, originally was set to run out Jan. 31 but was extended twice while negotiations continued. It expired Feb. 25 after the MLS Players Union refused another extension.

- AP