IN BRIEF
[naviga:h3]Jang takes lead in LPGA tourney[/naviga:h3]
SYLVANIA, Ohio — South Korea’s Ha Na Jang chipped in for birdie on the par-5 18th for a 5-under 66 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic.
She holed out from 20 yards after hitting a 3-wood approach to the front edge of the green. Winless in 23 career tour events, Jang birdied four of the first five holes on the back nine at Highland Meadows, dropped a stroke on the par-4 15th and rallied with the closing birdie.
Nannette Hill, Wei-Ling Hsu, Lee-Anne Pace and Sarah Kemp were tied for second. Kemp bogeyed the final hole to drop out of a tie for the lead.
[naviga:h3]Free agent Smith signs with Clippers[/naviga:h3]
LOS ANGELES — The Clippers signed free-agent forward Josh Smith, who helped eliminate them in the playoffs when he was with the Houston Rockets.
He averaged 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks while playing 55 regular-season games with Houston, which picked him up when he was waived by Detroit after 28 games last season.
[naviga:h3]SEC takes stand vs. domestic abuse[/naviga:h3]
HOOVER, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference has taken the high road when it comes to domestic violence, aiming to keep alleged abusers off their rosters even if it means they land in a rival league.
It’s a rare move that could put the SEC, which won seven straight national titles from 2006-2012, at a competitive disadvantage in some cases. So far, no other conference has put a similar rule into effect.
SEC schools passed a rule in May barring the signing of any athlete disciplined for serious misconduct at another college stop.
[naviga:h3]Right elbow injury sidelines Serena[/naviga:h3]
BASTAD, Sweden — Wimbledon champion Serena Williams said a right elbow injury forced her to pull out of the Swedish Open.
Williams said she felt pain in the elbow in the first game of her first-round match on Wednesday, four days after winning her sixth Wimbledon championship.