Golf: Davies extends her winning streak

LAURA DAVIES recorded a comfortable second win of the season, and her 14th European title since 1985, in the Women's English Open Championship at The Tytherington, Macclesfield, yesterday.

Davies hit a closing round of 71 for an 11-under-par 281 to add to a remarkable run which leaves the former British and US Open champion 33-under for her last three tournaments in Europe.

She finished seven strokes clear of Alison Nicholas, Marie-Laure de Lorenzi, of France, Australia's Corinne Dibnah and Tania Abitbol, of Spain, who shared second place.

Davies started the final round two strokes clear and forged further ahead when she holed from 15 feet for an eagle three at the long second hole. Out in 35, Davies increased her lead to five strokes before adding successive birdies at the 11th and 12th holes to come home in 36.

Dale Reid, Pam Wright, Florence Descampe, Catrin Nilsmark and Liselotte Neumann have been chosen for the European team to play the US in the Solheim Cup at Dalmahoy on 2-4 October. Davies, Nicholas, Kitrina Douglas, Trish Johnson, and Helen Alfredsson all qualified from the European tour money list.