Davies hopes ended by bogey as Ahn holds nerve

Laura Davies battled to a final-round 68 in the CJ Nine Bridges Classic in South Korea, but eventually had to settle for second best to the little-known home player Shi Hyun Ahn.

The Korean rookie held her nerve to shoot a 68 for 12-under 204, a six-foot eagle putt at the last earning a three-shot victory over Davies and another three Koreans, Grace Park, Gloria Park and Se Ri Pak.

Davies had mixed feelings after her seven-birdie round. "I played really well, but it wasn't quite enough," she said. "My bogey at the short 17th really ended my chance. I was in between clubs and hit it heavy.

"But it was also because I was trying to win. I reckoned if I could finish birdie, eagle then I'd have a hope, but bogey, birdie wasn't quite enough."

In the third round Davies had struggled with shoulder pain, but had no trouble in the final day's sunny conditions.

"I had no problem at all," she said after the day's play. "It must just have been one of those overnight things when you've slept the wrong way."

Ahn now has a conditional card for the LPGA Tour for the next year and full exempt status for 2005. She also gains an invitation to next week's LPGA Tournament of Champions in Alabama, where 32 players will be competing for £500,000.