Golf

Davies aims for win column

The 43-year-old's last tour victory was in 2001; Lincicome four back.

By BOB HARIG
Published April 15, 2007

REUNION - Beth Daniel, the LPGA player turned broadcaster who knows a little something about the subject, probably put it best when discussing Laura Davies and the Hall of Fame.

"If she says she isn't thinking about it, she is not telling the truth," said Daniel, an LPGA Hall of Famer.

Davies, 43, of England is by almost any measure a Hall of Famer. She has 20 wins on the LPGA Tour, including four majors. She has 47 international titles and has been a prolific winner in Europe, where last year she won the European Tour's money title for the fifth time.

"Yeah, but it's the LPGA Hall of Fame, and I haven't quite done enough," Davies said Saturday after shooting 2-under 70 at the Reunion Resort to share the third-round lead at 14-under 202 with Lorena Ochoa at the Ginn Open.

Judged on its whole, Davies would be a lock for the Hall. But the LPGA takes into account only its events, and no vote is required. It goes strictly by performance and uses a points system: two awarded for major victories, one for regular victories and one for player of the year or low scoring average. A minimum of 27 is required, and Davies has 25.

That means she needs two more wins or a major - which wouldn't seem like much if it weren't for the fact she has not won on the LPGA Tour since '01.

"I just want to win a tournament again," she said. "I mean, I've won around the world, just not won on the LPGA. ... If I had played full time over here rather than going back and forth, I honestly think I'd have been in by now. But I made my decision back then to play more in Europe and now I'm struggling to get in.

"You know, it's also a good challenge. I'm for it and I think I'll do it."

Winning won't be easy today.

First, the weather is expected to turn nasty, with gusty winds and rain in the forecast.

And she will be paired again with Mexico's Ochoa, 25, who has matched Davies with 66-66-70 and would supplant Annika Sorenstam - out at least a month with a disk injury - atop the Rolex Rankings if she can win her 11th tour title.

Rounding out the final threesome is Seminole's Brittany Lincicome, whose 5-under 67 left her tied with Natalie Gulbis for third place, four back, and with a shot at her second career tour victory.

"I will hopefully do the same things I did Saturday and Friday," said Lincicome, 21, who had an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys. "I hope my putter stays hot and I can give myself a couple of eagle chances."

Bob Harig can be reached at harig@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8806.

[Last modified April 14, 2007, 22:55:12]