Nicholas ends her crusade

GOLF

Britain's Alison Nicholas captured her first United States LPGA title with a three-stroke victory in the Corning Classic in New York.

The 32-year-old Nicholas, who has won 10 European events, shot a level- par 72 for a four-round total of 275, 13 under. She received a cheque for pounds 55,000, but that was nothing like as much as Laura Davies picked up in a Skins game in Texas. Davies, the leading US LPGA money earner this year, won more than pounds 93,000 as she finished second in the four-woman competition.

Nicholas, who lost in a play-off to Kelly Robbins at Corning in 1993, was ecstatic. "I'm thrilled to bits," she said. "It was tough, I had to battle the course today. After losing in the '93 play-off, it's been a goal of mine to win on the LPGA Tour and now I can relax. This is the best tour in the world and everyone wants to win out here."