Davies stays in the groove

Laura Davies led the British challenge with a one-under-par 70 at the Finnair Masters at Helsinki Golf Club.

Winner of the SAS Masters in Norway last Sunday, Davies had four bogeys and five birdies to finish in a tie for eighth place, just three shots behind the leader, Swede Elin Ohlsson.

Ohlsson showed her potential by following a bogey at with a string of five birdies between the third and 17th.

She led by a shot from two French players, Gwladys Nocera and Virginie Lagoutte, and American Kris Lindstrom.

Nocera, a three-time winner this season, is second to Davies on the New Star Order of Merit and her goal is to close the £30,000 (€44,500) gap and prevent the English golfer from winning the title for a record seventh time.

Davies had other commitments which prevented her from fitting in a practice round, but she said: “The confidence is still flowing from last week and one under is a pretty decent start. I’m hoping it is going to be another really good weekend.”