Golf: Johnson's play-off pay-off

Laura Davies, the defending champion, failed in her attempt for a third victory in the LPGA Championship at Wilmington, Delaware, although a final-round 68 moved her into joint fourth three shots behind. First place went to the American Chris Johnson, who had a par on the second play-off hole against her countrywoman Leta Lindley to take the title.

Johnson had bogeys on the 18th hole twice, once in regulation to force the play-off and once to keep the play-off going. Lindley, however, struggled on the second sudden-death hole, the 10th, after sending her tee shot into the trees on the right of the fairway.

Lindley, seeking her first career win, missed a 30 foot putt for par before the 39-year-old Johnson rolled in a six-footer for her eighth career victory and the first since 1995. The first prize moved Johnson into the top five in the 1997 money list.

LPGA CHAMPIONSHIP (Wilmington, Delaware) Leading final scores (US unless stated): 281 C Johnson 68 73 69 71 (Johnson won on the second play-off hole); L Lindley 72 69 69 71. 282 A Sorenstam (Swe) 70 73 72 67. 284 L Davies (GB) 67 75 74 68; S Steinhauer 68 71 73 72. 285 G Graham 69 79 71 66; D Coe-Jones (Can) 70 75 71 69; 286 T Johnson (GB) 70 73 72 71; 287 K Webb 71 79 70 67; B Mucha 68 73 72 74; 288 K Robbins 73 74 74 67; P Bradley 70 75 76 67; B Burton 71 73 76 68; D Dormann 70 73 75 70; J Dickinson 75 72 68 73.