BRIEFLY : LEMIEUX'S PURCHASE OF PENGUINS FINALLY APPROVED.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Mario Lemieux owns six scoring titles, two Stanley Cup rings and several NHL records. Finally, he also owns the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Less than 2-1/2 years after playing his final game, Lemieux became the first retired player to own a major sports team for which he played.

It took U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Bernard Markovitz a few minutes Friday to complete a $95 million closing that gave the team to Lemieux, who turned around the once-troubled franchise and battled back from Hodgkin's disease.

The deal ensured the Penguins will stay in Pittsburgh.

``Now the puck's on Mr. Lemieux's stick, and we've all seen what he's been able to do with that,'' Markovitz said.

Less than an hour later, Lemieux appeared in a business suit and was introduced to the media as the new owner. He began his new career by lowering ticket prices on 3,500 seats at the Civic Arena and announcing the creation of a section of seats where families can buy tickets at reduced prices.

General manager Craig Patrick will run the hockey side of the organization; Lemieux promised he will stay on the business side of things.

Last October, former co-owner Roger Marino took the franchise into bankruptcy court for protection from creditors.

Lemieux, who had sued Marino for some $30 million in salary by the Penguins, became the head of a committee of creditors.

Philadelphia Flyers all-star left wing John LeClair will miss training camp and some of the team's preseason games because of a back injury, the team said.

LeClair, 30, whose 43 goals last season led the Flyers and ranked fifth in the NHL, hurt his lower back while working out last month.

Free agent Steve Duchesne, a playmaking defenseman who started last season with the Kings and finished it with Philadelphia, signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

BASKETBALL: Free-agent forward Charles Barkley agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Houston Rockets. Sources say the team is worth $9 million.

Barkley heads into his 16th NBA season and fourth with the Rockets. He finished second in the league in rebounds last season, averaging 12.3. He also averaged 16 points and 4.5 assists.

Former New Jersey Nets head coach John Calipari has joined the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant, marking the second time he's worked for head coach Larry Brown. He previously worked under Brown from 1983-85, when both were at Kansas University.

GOLF: Allen Doyle fired a 9-under-par 63 to take a one-shot lead over Gil Morgan in the opening round of the TD Waterhouse Senior PGA Championship in Kansas City, Mo.

In search of his fourth victory this year, Doyle birdied the first four holes. The 63 was a record for the new Tiffany Greens Golf Club, which is playing host to the championship for the first time.

Jim Thorpe, Ed Dougherty and Brian Barnes were at 66, and Fred Gibson, Frank Conner, Bob Dickson and Hugh Baiocchi shot 67.

Forty-four of the 78 players in the field broke par.