Davies blows big chance

Laura Davies’ hopes of back-to-back wins on the Ladies’ European Tour suffered a setback with a second-round one-over-par 72 at the Finnair Masters in Helsinki today.

Davies ended a two-year victory drought at last week’s SAS Masters in Norway - but a round of three bogeys and two birdies left her six shots behind the six-under mark set by leader Virginie Lagoutte.

Lagoutte, the French golfer whose only win came in the KLM Dutch Open at the end of last season, repeated her opening-round 68 to lead by one stroke from Denmark’s Mianne Bagger, American Kris Lindstrom and the Swedish first-day leader Elin Ohlsson.

Bagger posted a best-of-the-day 66 to set up the chance of victory.

“It feels great to be just one shot out of the lead,” said 39-year-old Bagger, whose best result in two years on Tour was seventh at the OTP Bank Central European Open in Hungary in July.

“I still feel I’m new to this level and still learning. But I hit some good shots today and only had 27 putts and I’m looking forward to the final round.”