DANE Thomas Bjorn finally got back to winning ways in Europe ' two years on from the heartbreak he suffered in the Open at Sandwich.

The 34-year-old won the Daily Telegraph Dunlop British Masters at the Forest of Arden, beating England's Brian Davis and David Howell in a play-off and so denying them their first victory on home soil.

The trio tied on the six-under-par total of 282, one ahead of overnight leader Michael Campbell, who from three clear let himself down badly with a 73.

Davis went out on the first extra hole, and Bjorn sealed it with a par when he and Howell played the 18th again.

Bjorn, who at the 2003 Open lost to little-known American Ben Curtis from three shots ahead with four holes to play, said: 'It's been a wonderful week for me. This win has been a long time coming.'

With the trophy came a cheque for '283,330 ' and it also ought to banish any of the remaining demons which were affecting Bjorn last summer.

Earlier, Darren Clarke had threatened to grab a sensational third victory on the course when, from eight adrift, he holed his second to the 563-yard third for an albatross two and turned in 30.

But Clarke eventually had to settle for a share of eighth.

DIDSBURY held on to the Mersey Women's Shield in a nail-biting finish ' their fourth victory in six years.

It was their fourth victory in six years and a poignant moment for Ruth Fossey.
She became the first captain in the long history of the event to win the trophy with different clubs, having been in office in Charlton in 1979.

Locked

The scores were locked at 224 points between Didsbury and Sale, with Withington only one behind as the last group came in.

But Didsbury's Brenda Chadwick and Shield debutante Caroline Murray posted a fine 39 points to raise their final total to 239 with Sale second on 230, Withington 222, Charlton 215 and Northenden 187.

Top pair were Helen Fitzpatrick and Barbara Rice from Withington on 42 points, winning on countback from Didsbury's Margaret Lloyd and Cheshire's junior star Laura Thomas.

DAVID Shacklady, the title holder from Mossock Hall, grabbed eight birdies in a six-under-par 64 in the Lancashire PGA Matchplay Championship qualifier at Accrington.