France's
Sandrine Mendiburu out lasted Laura Davies, Elisabeth Esterl & Raquel Carriedo
to capture the Donegal Irish Open at Letterkenny today.
Laura
Davies' hopes of a fourth win of the year disappeared when she scored a six on
the second playoff hole handing the title to Mendiburu after Carriedo also carded
a bogey six. Esterl had already dropped out of the playoff after bogeying the
first extra hole.
Davies,
who forced her way into the playoff with a closing round 69, looked set to continue
her dominance of this years tour when she had a 5 foot birdie putt on the first
playoff hole, she missed though and had to settle for her third second place of
the season to add to her three titles.
Mendiburu's
win was just her second in an 8 year professional career, her previous tour win
came at the 1994 Costa Azul Open in Portugal.
Alison
Nicholas will probably be kicking herself even harder tonight, she was penalised
two shots in the second round after a rules mix up. After a final round 72 she
finished just a shot back from a playoff place. Nicholas is enjoying a consistent
season in Europe following her win in the Hawaiian Open in February, with three
seconds and three third places.
Overnight
leaders Wendy Dicks closed with a 76 to finish 6th while Solheim Cup skipper Dale
Reid missed out by two shots when she shot 75 for sixth place.
