BRIEFLY : A PAIR OF ACES STUNS GOLFERS, WITNESSES.

Byline: - Daily News Wire Services

It was instant history: two aces on the same hole from members of the same foursome. Two aces on back-to back shots.

No one, including the guys who did it - Lee Janzen and Scott McCarron - could remember ever having seen anything like it. Not even the legendary Jack Nicklaus, for goodness sake, could remember it happening anytime, anywhere.

But it did Monday on the first day of the first-ever CVS Charity Classic at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, R.I. It happened on the par-3 17th, the signature hole at the club.

First, Janzen, a two-time U.S. Open champion, hit a 9-iron toward the flag 136 yards away. He knew it was a good shot. But, with the elevated green, he could not see the hole.

``I'm watching the crowd for their reaction and they went berserk,'' Janzen said. ``It's amazing.''

Then it was McCarron's turn. His 9-iron shot landed a few feet short, took one hop just past the pin, then spun back and plopped in the hole.

Now, it was total pandemonium among the several hundred fans surrounding the green.

``That was,'' said Janzen, ``one of the most incredible things I've ever seen.''

HOCKEY: The expansion Atlanta Thrashers signed free-agent center Ray Ferraro to a two-year contract, bringing the 15-year veteran to the NHL's newest team.

Ferraro, who spent the past 3-1/2 seasons with the Kings, collected 13 goals and 18 assists in 65 games last season with L.A. His offensive numbers have suffered because of knee problems the past two seasons, but he said he's ready for whatever role he'll play with his new team.

``I know I'm going to be expected to provide some offense and help with the younger guys,'' said Ferraro, 35. ``I have a lot more to give.''

TENNIS: Jim Courier, a four-time Grand Slam winner ranked No. 46 in the world, coasted to a 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 victory over Rainer Schuttler of Germany on the opening day of the $2.45 million du Maurier Open in Montreal.

BASKETBALL: Isiah Thomas is an owner again.

After five months of negotiations and a couple of cancelled announcements, Isiah International, a Thomas-led company, finally purchased the Continental Basketball Association.

Neither Thomas nor officials of the CBA would confirm his purchase of the nine-team league, believed to be for approximately $10 million. But CBA officials scheduled a teleconference today with Thomas and CBA commissioner Gary Hunter.

Thomas will have authority over a league that previously had nine team owners calling the shots.

Purdue guard Tiffany Young, a member of the 1999 national-championship squad, died in a car accident in Gary, Indiana, Saturday night.

The Gary Post-Tribune reported that Young, 21, was a passenger in a car hit by a suspected drunk driver. She died on the scene and the driver and another

passenger in the car were hospitalized, the school said.

SWIMMING: Germany's Sandra Volker broke her own world record in the 50-meter backstroke at the 24th European Swimming Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. She finished in 28.71.