Golf: Davies fading

LAURA DAVIES fell out of the running for the Weetabix British Women's Open title at Woburn yesterday as Patty Sheehan of the US raised her bid for the pounds 50,000 first prize with a little unlikely-sounding help from Davies's mother.

Sheehan's wayward drive on the 390-yard seventh hit Mrs Davies and, instead of going into the trees, came down out of trouble and enabled Sheehan to par the hole. The 35-year-old, trying to become the first player to win both the US and British Open titles in the same year, went on to add a 72 to her opening 68.

With one round to go, she is one behind the leader Corrine Dibnah, who had five birdies for a 69 and seven-under-par total of 139. Davies got to two under with six to play, but then bogeyed the next five for a 76, nine behind Sheehan.

Scores, Sport in Short, page 31