Sports briefs

GOLF

Sophomore Jang gets first hole-in-one in LPGA Tour

Jang Ha-na made the hole-in-one on a par 4, becoming first golfer to do so in the LPGA Tour history.

In the third round of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic on Sunday (Korean time), Jang made the albatross on the eighth hole with her 3-wood club. The hole was originally designed 232 yards, but was reduced to 218 yards - a distance normally considered a par 3 - for the season-opening tournament due to weather conditions.

Jang, a sophomore in the LPGA Tour, said she didn’t actually see the ball go into the hole, but only knew it after her father told her. The 23-year-old dropped to her knees and bowed to the ground in celebration at the Ocean Club course on Paradise Island.

Jang, who had two holes-in-one in the KLPGA Tour, said in an interview that she was hoping for a car as a prize for the hole-in-one, but unfortunately, no car was up for grabs on the par-4 8th hole.

Jang finished the third round at 5-under 68 to stay 7-under through the tournament.

SPEED SKATING

Gold medalist Shim to miss major events due to injury

Olympic gold medalist short-track speed skater Shim Suk-hee will miss the International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup events in Germany and Netherlands this month because of a foot injury, Korea Skating Union said on Sunday.

The KSU said that Shim, who turned 19 on Saturday, was found to have a cellulitis on her left foot after training last Friday and will be absent from the season’s fifth World Cup event in Germany from Feb. 5 to 7 and a sixth competition in Netherlands from Feb. 12 to 14.

The KSU said that the Sehwa Girls’ High School student will receive treatment in Korea and will prepare for the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul on March 11-13.

By Joo Kyung-don