The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 33

-J Lynx turn triple-play trick, but lose to Bisons, D3 Henin to face Jankovic in showdown for Rogers Cup, D3 Canada still has work to do ahead of Rugby World Cup, D8 THE CITIZEN'S WEEKLY SPORTS SUNDAY, AUGUST 1 9, 2 0 0 7 5i. HaTOUKBt. SECTION rope, it's a paltry sum. In many countries, snooker is flourishing. Ding Junhui, ranked ninth in the world, is from China, where the sport is thriving.

Six-time world champion Geet Sethi is a national hero in India. In England, where the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association is based, top snooker players earn millions. "Over there, on TV, it's the most popular sport after soccer," says Robidoux, once ranked in the top 16 on the professional tour. "The championship gets about 100 hours of coverage." Born in Saint-J5r6me, Robidoux took up snooker when he was 13. The owner of a local billiards hall let him play for free.

Each day, after school and dinner, Robidoux worked on his game for five hours. "I just loved to see the balls disap at Open "I was thinking about the course record. But we have one more day." That noise you hear? That's the rest of the field groaning. As for the loud rumbles that came out of Royal Mayfair they weren't from a CN train. They were from the Lorena Ochoa express, which put together another flawless round: seven birdies and never close to making a bogey.

Ochoa only missed two greens: No. 15 and 17. She almost chipped It in on 15 and had no trouble getting up and down to save par on 17. See OCHOA on PAGE D2 Reigning champion Alain Robidoux lines the 2007 Canadian Men's Snooker Championship, which began Thursday and is nni I ne lost art ox snooker up a shot during a round-robin match at the popularity of the game in writes ROGER COLLIER. part of his body in motion.

A fluid stroke brings his stick to the cue ball, which zips across the table and collides with one of the red balls, or cherries, as the players call them. The cue ball scoots backwards as if on a string. The far side pocket swallows the cherry. He pulls a chalk cube from his left pocket, rubs it on the tip of his cue and takes a few steps to his right. His eyes never leave the table.

Robidoux, 47, is back at the Canadian Men's Snooker Championship, which began Thursday at the Civic Centre, to defend his crown. If he's the last one standing when the tour- ft MIKE CARROCCETTO, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN being held at the Civic Centre. pear in the pockets." However, Canadian youths are no longer embracing snooker. There are few elite young players in this country. Besides their dapper attire (bow shiny vests, shinier shoes), most players competing at Lansdowne Park this week have one thing in common: touches of grey in their hair.

For some, it's considerably more than a touch. One reason snooker has all but disappeared from Canada, says Robidoux, who now teaches billiards in Montreal, is because competitions rarely appear on Canadian television. "It has to be shown on TV so young people can see it and get interested," he says. "There are no youngsters playing the game. It's a shame." See SNOOKER on PAGE D8 Lorena Ochoa reacts after linking a putt on the third hole yesterday.

Lk It's big business overseas, but Canada has sunk to low levels, Alain Robidoux hovers over the green-topped table, lining up his shot. His stance is perfect: torso low, left leg bent, right leg as straight as the cue in his hands. His concentration is absolute. He glares at the ball he plans to sink as if it just insulted his mother. He pulls his right arm back and his elbow rises high above his shoulder.

Many novices, on their forward stroke, fail to keep their heads still. Ro-bidoux's novice days are a distant memory. When his shooting arm shifts toward the table, it's the only Rain fails to championships The 2007 Canadian Men's Snooker Championship is one of seven tournaments that make up The Canadian Snooker and Nine-Ball Championships at the Civic Centre until Aug. 26. nament concludes Wednesday, which would surprise no one, it will be his eighth national title.

A victory will earn him a trip to the world amateur championship in Thailand, plus $4,000. Compared to the prizes he regularly won during a 15-year pro career in Eu be a good sign for the rest of the field, as if attempting to come from at least four strokes back of the undisputed No. 1 woman player in the world wasn't tough enough. "The British Open was rainy and cold, too," Ochoa said of her last LPGA Tour start and first major title. "It has been raining daily for me.

So I like that. "I'm never too comfortable playing with a sweater or jacket," said Ochoa, who was constantly putting on and taking off a black jacket over her yellow sweater. "Over the last few weeks, I'm getting more comfortable now. So that's something positive for me. dampen Ochoa's spirits Course-record tying 64 propels world No.

1 to four-shot lead at top of leaderboard played in a light, but steady and cold rain. Paula Creamer, who had a 5-under 66, and Laura Diaz (68) arc Ochoa's closest competitors. Ya-Ni Tseng is six shots back. Kim-berly Hall and second-round co-leader Jul! Inkster have eight shots to make up on Ochoa. "I actually love the rain.

It's been good to me," said Ochoa, which can't BY CURTIS STOCK E0M0NT0N Lorena Ochoa ran through Edmonton's river valley most mornings this week. Yesterday she ran through the field of the CN Canadian Women's Open. One shot back entering the third round, Ochoa takes a four-shot lead Into final round after a course-record equalling 7-under 64 that was 35 0 9.