GOLF

Donald, Tseng, Lehman named golfers of the year

Luke Donald was the overwhelming choice as male player of the year by the Golf Writers Association of America.

Donald, who won four times around the world and became the first player to win the money title on the PGA Tour and European Tour in the same season, won 88 percent of the vote to easily beat Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Rory McIlroy.

Yani Tseng received 94 percent of the vote as the female player of the year after winning 12 times worldwide, including two majors. Tom Lehman was voted senior player of the year.

BASEBALL

YANKEES: The Internal Revenue Service is suing Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner, over what it calls an “erroneous” tax refund of more than $670,000.

The situation reflects returns filed in 2001.

AUTO RACING

KAHNE APOLOGIZES: Kasey Kahne, the NASCAR driver, apologized for comments he made on his Twitter account about breastfeeding in public.

According to multiple media reports, Kahne posted messages on his account that he saw a mother breastfeeding a child in a supermarket, calling it “nasty” and saying he didn’t “feel like shopping any more or eating.”

HARNESS RACING

SCARBOROUGH DOWNS: Victory Tax was named the track’s trotter of the year, narrowly beating out a two-time winner, Kerogen, and the claiming trotter of the year, Light Iron.

Victory Tax, the 5-year-old son of Victory Sam, is owned by Kyle Gibbs of Brooks. Victory Tax finished in the top three in 21 of 27 starts this season.

BOATING

SYDNEY TO HOBART: Loki, the Australian entry, was declared the overall handicap winner of the yacht race after finishing fourth overall today.

Living Doll was second on handicap and 84-year-old skipper Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin finished third.

SOCCER

MARADONA FINED: Diego Maradona was fined $2,450 by the United Arab Emirates Football Association for verbally abusing a rival coach.

Maradona, who coaches UAE club Al Wasl, has been feuding with Al Ain Coach Cosmin Olaroiu since losing an ill-tempered match last month.

ADU TRAINING: Freddy Adu, a Major League Soccer player, will train with Rayo Vallecano and may join the Spanish club.

TENNIS

EXHIBITION EVENT: Top-ranked Novak Djokovic began his preparations for the 2012 season with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory against No. 16 Gael Monfils at the World Tennis Championship exhibition event at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Djokovic is coming off three Grand Slam wins during a 70-6 season.

NADAL TO REST: Rafael Nadal said he plans to take several weeks off after the Australian Open to recover from a nagging shoulder injury.

SKIING

SCHLEPER RETIRING: Sarah Schleper, 32, of Vail, Colo., retired from World Cup competition. She is a four-time Olympian.

HIGH SCHOOLS

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Katelyn King scored 10 points to lead Sanford (4-2) to a 31-18 victory against visiting Kennebunk (0-6).

King knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter as the Redskins used a 14-1 run to open a 26-10 lead. Sanford had 23 steals.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL: Ben Dickinson scored 24 points to lead Boothbay Region (5-1) to a 70-53 victory against Mt. Abram (2-3) at Salem.

John Hepburn added 14 points and Kameron Markee had 10 for Boothbay Region, which took a 25-18 halftime lead, then pulled away with a 25-14 run in the third period.

GIRLS’ HOCKEY: Jen Machin and Rachel Moroney scored two goals each, and Gillian Ford and Mary Sasso added one goal each to lead Brunswick (6-1-1) past visiting St. Dominic (1-9), 6-1.

— From staff and news services