BRIEFLY : PAK EARNS FOURTH TITLE.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Se Ri Pak birdied the final hole and then watched as Dottie Pepper missed a 4-footer for birdie, giving the rookie sensation a one-shot victory Sunday in the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic in Howland, Ohio.

The victory was the 20-year-old Korean's fourth of the season and deprived Pepper of her first win since 1996.

Pepper, seeking her 15th career victory and first in 45 tournaments, rolled in a 5-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to catch Pak at 14-under.

The victory again put Pak into the No. 1 spot on the LPGA money list. She has finished in the top 10 in only four tournaments - winning each one.

Steve Pate overcame a bogey on the 18th hole of the CVS Charity Classic in Sutton, Mass., to win his first tournament since a car crash knocked him off the PGA Tour for nearly all of 1996.

Pate's bogey left him with a one-stroke win, his first victory since 1992, over Scott Hoch and Bradley Hughes. Pate shot 4-under-par 67. Dave Stockton Jr. shot a 71 and finished three strokes back.

FOOTBALL: Running back Curtis Martin, the $36 million centerpiece to the New York Jets offense, was held out of workouts because of a slight muscle strain in his left hamstring. ``He's already shown me enough that I know what he can do,'' said Jets coach Bill Parcells, who signed Martin as a restricted free agent from the New England Patriots.

John Avery, the Miami Dolphins' first-round draft pick, went down with a strained right hamstring during an intrasquad scrimmage.Coach Jimmy Johnson, who has expressed concerns about Avery's durability while raving about his skill, said the 5-foot-9 scatback didn't tear the hamstring and should return next week.

Receiver Randy Moss, the Minnesota Vikings' top draft pick, signed a four-year contract worth about $4.5 million.

BOXING: Japan's Satoshi Iida, taking command in the later rounds, pounded out a unanimous decision over bleeding Nicaraguan challenger Jurio Gamboa to keep his World Boxing Association super flyweight title in Nagoya, Japan.

BASKETBALL: Duke guard Trajan Langdon was added to the U.S. World Championship team to replace Michigan State guard Mateen Cleaves, who suffered a sprained left ankle in an exhibition game Saturday night.