Davies heads entries

Laura Davies has been as good as her word in returning to competitive action in this country in the £100,000 Donegal Irish Women's Open which starts at Ballyliffin on Thursday. And she will be joined by another former winner, Alison Nicholas, who emulated her British colleague by capturing the US Women's Open last year.

The presence of these two alone, fully justifies the faith that Bord Failte have kept with the women's professional game, despite the serious administrative problems that have occurred during the last 12 months. And the players are certain of a warm welcome at this rapidly developing venue on the Inishowen Peninsula.

Competitors such as Davies and Nicholas will be looking to the top prize of £15,000. But more modest pickings would be highly acceptable to the five Irish challengers - Tracy Eakin, Dympna Keenan, Barbara Hackett, Lynn McCool and Aideen Rogers.

The top-30 finishers can count on a minimum, four-figure cheques while the 60th placed finisher will receive £300. A pretournament pro-am takes place tomorrow.

It is a particularly important event for Hackett who, as a former Irish Women's Amateur Close champion, is making her professional debut. And the line-up includes the English twins, Johanna and Samantha Head.

Patricia Meunier Lebouc, winner of the Irish Open with a four-under-par 284 at Luttrellstown Castle last year, is expected to defend the title but was not among the official entries at the weekend.

The tournament is being staged on the Glashedy Links which was designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock and was officially opened in 1995 at a cost of £1 million. "We welcome the decision of the Ladies Tour to stage this year's event in Donegal for the first time," said Niall Reddy, acting director general of Bord Failte yesterday.

Korean-born Pearl Sinn chipped in for birdie at the 18th hole and sweated out Michele Redman's final three holes to capture her first career win at the LPGA Farm Rail Classic in Springfield, Illinois on Sunday.

Sinn, who was born in Seoul but has represented the United States in both the Curtis Cup and World Cup, fired a final-round seven-under-par 65 and erased a two-shot deficit over the final seven holes to capture the 105,000-dollar first prize with a 16-under 200.

Redman, who shot a career-low nine-under 63 Saturday to move into a five-way tie for first, fired a 66 to finish second at 15-under 201. Tammie Green, who had a late bogey, was another stroke back in third with a 69.

"It's really, really sweet," Sinn said of her first career win. "I didn't know if it would happen today, but I knew it was around the corner."

"I'm happy finishing second," Redman said. "I haven't been in this position all year, so I'm happy."

Meanwhile, at amateur level, the Ulster Bank All-Ireland Women's Fourball title is destined for Co Wicklow for the first time. This was assured when Powerscourt and Arklow came through an original entry of 250 clubs to reach this year's final at Mullingar on Thursday.

In the semi-finals at Tullamore last week, Powerscourt beat Galway by 2-1 while at Royal Tara, Arklow overcame the Northern challenge of City of Derry by the same margin.