Sports in Brief: Stricker leads Memorial by 3

Steve Stricker took command of the Memorial golf tournament Friday with a hole-in-one that put him in control at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.

Stricker used a 6-iron on the 188-yard eighth hole - his 17th hole of the second round - then birdied his final hole for a 5-under 67.

Instead of being part of a five-way tie for the lead, he was at 9-under 135, 3 shots clear of Rory McIlroy (72), Ricky Barnes (70), Jonathan Byrd (67), and Rod Pampling of Australia, who had a bogey-free 66.

Mark Brooks battled through hot, breezy conditions to shoot a 6-under par 65 for a 2-stroke lead over Mark Calcavecchia and Peter Senior in the Principal Charity Classic in West Des Moines, Iowa.

BASEBALL: Temple baseball coach Rob Valli, who guided Owls to 112 wins over his six years at the helm, resigned. A search for his successor will commence immediately, the school said.

"I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences that Temple University has provided me," Valli said. "It is very difficult to say goodbye to a tremendous group of student-athletes, coaches, and colleagues."

"We wish him the best in his future endeavors," said Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw.

HORSE RACING: Uncle Mo has been diagnosed with an inflamed liver, although last year's 2-year-old champion could resume training this summer. Uncle Mo was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection following his third-place finish in the Wood Memorial in April.

Owner Mike Repole hopes Uncle Mo can return to trainer Todd Pletcher's stable in New York state before Aug. 1. He's optimistic the colt can race again, but Uncle Mo's progress during the next three months will be the deciding factor.

Authorities in Louisville, Ky., said Michael Baze, the jockey whose body was found inside his car at Churchill Downs on May 10, died from an accidental overdose of cocaine and a prescription pain medication.

Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Jim Wesley said significant amounts of cocaine and the pain medication Oxymorphone were found in 24-year-old Baze's system, he said.

- Staff and wire reports