Sports briefs

SPEED SKATING

Olympic champion Lee wins gold at World Cup in Calgary

Two-time Olympic champion speed skater Lee Sang-hwa won the gold medal in this season’s first ISU World Cup in Calgary, Canada, on Saturday.

Lee, 26, finished first in the women’s 500-meter race at 36.96 seconds, which was 0.6 seconds behind her world record. China’s Zhang Hong was second at 37.18, followed by Brittany Bowe at 37.22.

Lee, who has won gold in the 500 meters in last two Winter Games, finished 10th in 1,000-meter race on Sunday.

In the men’s team pursuit competition, Joo Hyung-joon, Lee Seung-hoon and Kim Cheol-min won silver medals with a record of 3 minutes 39.60 seconds, which was 0.28 seconds behind Canada.

GOLF

Rookie Choi picks up first prize with 17-under finish

Rookie golfer Choi Hye-jung got her first win in the KLPGA Tour at the season finale Chosun Ilbo-Posco Championship on Sunday.

At the Lakeside Country Club in Yongin, Gyeonggi, Choi hit 4-under 68 to finish the event at 17-under 199, beating No. 2 prize money leader Park Sung-hyun by three strokes.

Choi, 23, is the oldest rookie in the top women’s professional golf tour this year.

Chun In-gee finished the event tied in 56th position, but she confirmed the top place in MVP award, prize money and average scores for this season’s KLPGA Tour. Chun, who will play in the U.S. LPGA Tour next season, won five events this season.

By Joo Kyung-don