Laura Davies wins in Norway

Britain's Laura Davies won the inaugural P4 Norwegian Masters at Oslo Golf Club yesterday, but she needed a birdie at the second hole of a play-off to edge out Spaniard Ana Larraneta.

Larraneta, with only one top five in five years on the European Tour, shot a great final round four under 68 to set a clubhouse target of five under 283 that only Davies, who dropped a shot at the 17th in a 73, could match.

In the play-off over the 18th hole, both players made par at the 18th the first time round, but Davies clinched the £33,000 top prize by holing from five feet for birdie the second time.

For Davies it was a 64th career title and her first since the WPGA International Matchplay Championship at Gleneagles last September.

The win lifted her to eighth place in the European Solheim Cup rankings, one outside the top seven automatic selections with three events to count.

As for 29-year-old Larraneta, the £22,330 second place cheque more than doubled her career earnings and she had the added bonus of earning one of the five qualifying spots for this week’s Weetabix Women’s British Open at Turnberry.

The others went to three Swedes, Mia Lojdahl, Nina Karlsson and Sara Eklund, plus England’s Lora Fairclough.

But it was Davies who had most cause for celebration.

‘‘I’m not a big fan of play-offs because I’ve lost a lot more than I’ve won,’’ she said. ‘‘But it’s great to win again and a perfect way to go into the British Open.”

I couldn’t hole a putt all day, but the one from five feet when it mattered most.’’

As for Larraneta, she said: ‘‘I’m so happy. I can’t believe all that has happened to me today and I’m so pleased to have qualified for my first British Open.’’

Karine Icher, who three-putted the last to miss out on the play-off, shot 73 and tied for third with her French compatriot Marine Monnet, who closed with a 70.