WINDSOR JUNCTION, N.S. - In many ways, the Nova Scotia Open is just another Web.Com Tour event, another chance to move up the money list and get closer to a PGA Tour card for next year. But for the 20 Canadians in the field, it is a rare home game with some tangible benefits. "Its great," said Roger Sloan, who plays out of the Tobiano Golf Club in Kamloops, B.C. "I stopped at Tim Hortons before my round." Perhaps it was the power of that morning double-double that pushed Sloan to a score of four-under 67, the lowest among the Canadians who teed off in the morning wave. "I got off to a really good start," said Sloan. "Birdied my first hole and had a couple of really good birdie opportunities in my first few holes. It was just a solid ball-striking day." Sloan had it to four under through his first nine with birdies on the third, fifth and ninth holes. He pushed that to five under with another one at the 12th before giving that back at the 17th. The New Course at Ashburn isnt long by Web.Com Tour standards but the greens here are providing a suitable defence. The putting surfaces have strong (a polite word) slopes that make getting the ball close on approaches tough and the putting even more difficult. "The greens are tricky," Sloan stated, "so you really have to be in control of the ball to get it close." By the time 36 holes are in the bag, "tricky" might be a nice description for how the players view these greens. They will most certainly be the deciding factor in who wins. Sloan, of course, is hoping that will be him. Hes in his second season on the Triple-A circuit and has been playing some more consistent golf this season, making the cut in seven of 12 starts. However, hes only missed once in his last seven events, showing steady improvement. A year ago, he was anything but consistent, making just five cuts in 19 starts. However there was a slight off-course distraction as he got married. This year, however, his goal was to avoid the highs and lows, and even out his play. "Ive been playing solid all year," he stated, "putting together some solid rounds of golf. Thats what I really wanted to do this year. You never know when those really good rounds are going to come. You just have to keep plugging away and stay focused on one shot at a time." Talking to Sloan its easy to see hes mature and keeps a good perspective on life, something that isnt always found in younger players. He sees the world beyond golf and is obviously well-grounded. He is in the middle of a seven-week run of tournaments but doesnt seem frustrated or burned out or home-sick, despite the fact his wife rarely is able to join him on Tour. He understands his job and the career hes chosen. He prepared himself for this lengthy road trip and is focused on his game. "Theres no job security out here as you might have on the PGA Tour where I can take next week off," Sloan stated. "You have a lot of guys playing really well, lot of great players, too. Theres pressure to play well but at the same time, if youre out here, you have the ability so trust yourself." Unlike a number of the other Canadians such as Adam Hadwin or MacKenzie Hughes, Sloan is playing without much in the way of outside financial backing. He has no major sponsors and wasnt a beneficiary of Golf Canadas Young Pro program when it was announced earlier this year. In fact, hes never really been on the Golf Canada radar, when he was an amateur or now. Its somewhat hard to believe -- actually its shocking -- that with his talent and personality, a company wouldnt embrace him and get behind him. Still, the ever-optimistic Sloan doesnt see that as a problem, but rather a fact that will change only by his doing. "Ive been blessed to play this game professionally on my own accord," he stated. "Its taught me a lot of good values. Its been tough, Ive had to make a lot of sacrifices, my wife and I, in order to make that work. Its tough but at the same time I have to keep focused on playing well and ultimately achieving my goal of winning on the PGA Tour and the money kind of takes care of itself." Nolan Ryan Astros Jersey .Y. -- In a span of three days, Shabazz Napier and Connecticut knocked out both Philadelphia schools in the NCAA tournament. J. R. Richard Jersey . Dillon Brooks scored 26 points on 9-17 shooting for Canada while pulling down six rebounds and picking up six steals. Teammate Chris Egi had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/customized/. - After three days of light, make that very light, workouts, Team Irvin and Team Carter are ready for tonights Pro Bowl. Jeff Bagwell Astros Jersey . The Raptors have been outscored 88-66 in the opening quarter over a three-game span to begin the month of February. Their most recent loss, 109-101 in Sacramento on Wednesday, was eerily similar to Saturdays defeat at the hands of the Trail Blazers. Aledmys Diaz Jersey . The English Football Association had charged the German right back with violent conduct after retrospectively reviewing video evidence of an incident that was missed by match officials at Craven Cottage on Saturday.ATLANTA -- Another new road venue didnt affect Jesse Hahn. That is exactly what San Diego manager Bud Black has come to expect from the rookie right-hander with the cool disposition. Hahn allowed only three hits in six innings, to remain unbeaten on the road, and the Padres beat Atlanta 5-2 on Friday night to extend their recent success against the Braves. Hahn (6-2) allowed one run as he improved to 4-0 in four road starts. "It tells me a little bit about the heartbeat," Black said of Hahn. "This guy is pretty calm for a young player. Hes got some confidence in his game, which we came to know in spring training. "I like the fact again hes got a pretty even keel about his personality during the course of the game." Hahn was in control despite having only four strikeouts, his low total in eight starts. He had no quick answer for his road success. "I dont know what the difference is," Hahn said. "I approach every game the same. I didnt even know I was pitching better on the road." The Padres continued their recent offensive recovery with 13 hits to beat Alex Wood (7-8). They have had 27 hits in their last two games, their best two-game total of the season, and have scored 26 runs in their last three games. "We do think we have the capability to produce more offensively," Black said. "Its taken a while to get there, and were still not anywhere near where we need to be." The Padres still rank last in the majors with their .218 batting average and 317 runs. Tommy Medica drove in a run and had a career-high four hits. Chris Denorfia had three hits and an RBI for San Diego. The Padres, who were 5-1 against the Braves in 2013, have won five of their last six series against Atlanta since early in 2011. The Braves fell 2 1-2 games behind first-place Washington in the NL East. Wood allowed five runs, four earned. He gave up a career-high 12 hits, including three infield singles, in five innings. Other hits found holes through the infield defence. "Ive never seen so many ground balls go through the infield," Braves manageer Fredi Gonzalez said.dddddddddddd "(Wood) kept getting ground balls, and they just kept getting through the infield." The Braves scored one run in the eighth but left the bases loaded. Kevin Quackenbush gave up a two-out single to Freddie Freeman before walking Justin Upton. Joaquin Benoit walked two batters, including a bases-loaded pass to Evan Gattis to force in a run. Chris Johnsons fly ball to shallow centre field ended the inning. Benoit had two strikeouts in a perfect ninth to earn his second save. San Diego led 5-0 before Freeman hit a one-out triple off the wall in centre field and scored on Uptons sacrifice fly in the sixth. Wood was helped by double plays in the first and second innings as he gave up eight hits but only two runs in the first three innings. The Padres doubled their lead with two runs in the fourth. Denorfia had a run-scoring single and scored on Yangervis Solartes fly ball for a 4-0 lead. Rene Rivera added a run-scoring single off Wood in the fifth. Black unsuccessfully challenged a call that Medica was forced out at second base in the fifth. Braves third baseman Chris Johnson bobbled Jeff Francoeurs grounder before throwing to Tommy La Stella at second. The call stood following a review that lasted 3 minutes, 1 second. Francoeur, who played with his hometown Braves from 2005-09, received an ovation before his first at-bat. He was 0 for 3 with a walk. NOTES: Braves RHP Anthony Vavaro was activated from paternity leave, and RHP Gus Schlosser was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. ... Black said San Diego 1B Yonder Alonso (wrist) will be activated from the 15-day DL and is tentatively set to start on Saturday. OF Jake Goebbert will be optioned to Triple-A El Paso. ... Braves LHP Jonny Venters, trying to come back from a second Tommy John surgery in 2013, played catch from 100 feet and could throw in the bullpen next week. ... The series continues Saturday night when Atlantas Julio Teheran will try for his 10th win against Padres rookie Ordisamer Despaigne, who has a 1.31 ERA in five starts. ' ' '