Vikki Laing finishes top Scot after closing round of 69

Laura Davies wins four-way play-off in India


FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
GURGAON (India). England's Laura Davies has won the Hero Honda Women's Indian Open at the first hole of a four-way play-off involving Thailand's Nontaya Srisawang, yesterdays leader, South Africa's Tandi Cuningham, and Sweden's Louise Friberg at the DLF Country Club, New Delhi.
It was the 47-year-old Laura's 77th pro career win and her fifth in a Ladies European Tour event this season.
Davies now takes her fight to win the LET Henderson Money List to the Euros 500,000 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters in Dubai from December  8-11 at the Emirates Golf Club.
After an average second round yesterday, Davies fought her way back to finish the final round with a 2-under 70 to tie 213 with Nontaya, Cuningham and Friberg.
France's Cassandra Kirkland was the sole finisher on fifth spot with a total of 214. She played a final round of one-over 73, while defending champion Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand (who was going for a hat-trick) and Italy's Veronica Zorzi finished joint sixth with 215 total.
In the play-off, big-hitting Davies was on the par-5, 18th for two and two-putted for a birdie that gave her the title. Incidentally it was the same hole that resurrected her round during regulation play when she eagled to keep her title hopes alive.
Nontaya was on in three shots and two-putted for a par while the two other players, Cuningham and Friberg, hit their balls into the water.
"I love the 18th. It gave me life, it gave me money and it gave me the title. I'll remember this hole for a long, long time. It was my third win in 15 playoffs," said Davies, whose cash prize of 33,750 Euros leaves her just over 2,444 Euros short of Pace's earning on the Henderson Money List.
"This means I have to win in Dubai to surpass Lee-Anne's earnings," said Davies.
However, it was a lucky outing for Nontaya who is scheduled to leave for Spain next week to play in the first stage of LET Q-school. But her second place today ensured her a top 80 spot on the LET Money List and this means she need not have to go to Spain next week for the Q-school.
"It was so close and yet so far for me. I led till the 15th hole but the bogey on the 16 ended my hope of winning my maiden professional title since I turned professional in 2006," said Nontaya from Chiangmai who felt sad for her dad who has been carrying her bag since she started playing in amateur and professional competitions.
Cuningham was more than happy with her finish. I have good plans lined out for the year-end Christmas holidays with my husband, but more importantly my performance here have given me a new zeal for better results in the 2011 season," she said.

SCOTSWATCH: Vikki Laing, who had made the 36-hole cut with nothing to spare, came roaring up the field with a three-under-par final round of 69 to finish top Scot in joint 27th position on 221. Her earlier rounds had been 78 and 74. The Musselburgh player covered her last 12 holes in five under par with birdies at the seventh, ninthy, 11th, 13th and 17th, having bogeyed the 15th and 16th. Vikki earned 2,328 Euros.
Carly Booth was next best Scot with a 74 for 222 and joint 31st place. She earned 2,058 Euros.
Kylie Walker, who had been the leading Scot through the first and second rounds, finishing disappointingly with a 78 for 224 which gave her a share of 41st place and a payslip for 1,331 Euros.
Pamela Feggans had three rounds of 76 for a total of 228 and a share of 59th place. She earned 686 Euros.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
213 Laura Davies (Eng) 65 78 70 (Laura won at 1st play-off hole), Louise Friberg (Swe) 68 75 70, Nontaya Srisawang (Tha) 71 71 71, Tandi Cuningham (Rsa) 72 68 73
214 Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 74 67 73
215 Pornanong Phatlum (Tha) 72 71 72, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 69 72 74
216 Linda Wessberg (Swe) 72 75 69, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 72 72 72
217 Holly Aitchison (Eng) 72 74 71, Porani Chutichai (Tha) 74 72 71, Katherine Kempter (USA) 72 73 72, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 72 71 74, Becky Morgan (Wal) 73 69 75
218 Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa) 69 77 72, Elena Giraud (Fra) 73 73 72, Sophie Walker (Eng) 73 72 73
219 Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 74 73 72, Libby Smith (USA) 72 75 72, Jessica Ji (Kor) 72 75 72, Rebecca Flood (Aus) 67 78 74, Marjet Van Der Graaf (Ned) 73 73 73
220 Claire Aitken (Eng) 76 70 74, Nicollet Sharmila (Ind) 78 73 69, Diana D'alessio (USA) 73 71 76, Yuki Sakurai (Jpn) 71 72 77
221 Ayaka Hayashi (Jpn) 71 76 74, Julie Greciet (Fra) 76 73 72, Maria Verchenova (Rus) 72 74 75, Vikki Laing (Sco) 78 74 69
222 Frances Bondad (Aus) 77 71 74, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 76 72 74, Russamee Gulyanamitta (Tha) 70 76 76, Carly Booth (Sco) 76 72 74
223 Danielle Bowers (Eng) 76 72 75, Mayumi Chinzei (Jpn) 75 72 76, Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai (Tha) 78 71 74, Monica Christiansen (Den) 73 77 73, Martina Gillen (Irl) 73 77 73, Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor) 72 73 78
224 Sarah Nicholson (Aus) 73 75 76, Caroline Rominger (Swi) 72 76 76, Nuchada Vitayakonkomol (Tha) 72 75 77, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 76 72 76, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 74 72 78, Kylie Walker (Sco) 71 75 78
225 Morgana Robbertze (Rsa) 76 71 78, Kim Welch (USA) 74 74 77
226 Lidya Ivana Jaya (Ina) 76 71 79, Vaishvi Sinha (Ind) 73 75 78, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 72 78 76, Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 76 74 76, Melodie Bourdy (Fra) 76 75 75
227 Praewnapa Phol-Uayporn (Tha) 67 81 79, Narisara Kerdrit (Tha) 76 73 78, Mariana Macias Capuzzi (Spa) 77 73 77, Patcharachuta Kongkapan (Tha) 73 78 76, Julie Maisongrosse (Fra) 77 75 75
228 Ajira Nualraksa (Tha) 77 74 77, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 76 75 77, Tiranun Yoopan (Tha) 77 75 76, Pamela Feggans (Sco) 76 76 76
233 Tanya Wadhwa (Ind) 75 76 82