Golf: Resolute Alfredsson

HELEN ALFREDSSON, of Sweden, achieved a second consecutive Hennessy Cup success as she resolutely swept past Britain's Trish Johnson with a impressive closing round of 66 at Refrath, Cologne, yesterday.

Alfredsson, a former British Open champion, collected a winner's cheque for pounds 18,000 when her 17-under-par 271 left her one stroke clear of Johnson.

Britain's Laura Davies and Liselotte Neumann, another Swede, shared third place one stroke further behind.

Twelve months ago Alfredsson had to birdie the last two holes to force her way into a play-off. Yesterday she went one better by holing putts of five and 15 feet for birdies at the last two holes.

Johnson, winner of the title in 1990, had started the day four strokes clear of the field and narrowly missed a birdie-putt of 12 feet on the last green which would have tied the Swede.

HENNESSY CUP (Refrath, Cologne) Leading final scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 271 H Alfredsson (Swe) 68 70 67 66. 272 T Johnson 67 66 67 72. 273 L Davies 66 66 73 68; L Neumann (Swe) 67 72 66 69. 276 F Descampe (Bel) 70 69 66 71. 278 A Nicholas 72 66 70 70. 279 L Fairclough 69 70 70 70. 280 M-L de Lorenzi (Fr) 70 70 70 70.