Isabelle Boineau claims dramatic win at Ladies Scottish Open

Isabelle Boineau staged an impressive finish in tough conditions to clinch her maiden Ladies European Tour title at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open.

Boineau trailed long-time leader Linda Wessberg by one shot with two holes to play at a rain-swept Dundonald Links in north Ayrshire, but a two-shot swing at the 17th swung the tournament in the Frenchwoman's favour.

The 27-year old could manage only a par-five at the final hole, but she was crowned champion when Wessberg's four-foot birdie putt to force a play-off did not catch enough of the cup to drop.

Becky Morgan had started the final day with a three-stroke advantage, but the Welsh veteran was soon playing catch-up when she bogeyed two of the first three holes while Boineau almost holed her approach to the first and tapped in for birdie.

Wessberg leapt clear at the top when she followed birdies at the second and third with a superb eagle at the long fifth, and she stayed on course to claim yet more success for Sweden in Scotland with a run of 11 consecutive pars, including a clutch save at the 16th which maintained her slim advantage.

Boineau birdied 12 and 14 either side of a bogey at the 13th, her only mistake of the day, and she suddenly found herself as the outright leader heading to the 18th tee when she rolled in a 10-footer for birdie at 17 and Wessberg three-putted.

A solid five at the last capped a four-under 68 for Boineau, and she was celebrating a dramatic victory after Wessberg misjudged her putt to finish tied at the top on 11 under par and signed for a 69.

"What a tournament to win: the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open," said Boineau, who is in her third year on the LET. "Today is one of the best days of my life.

"I was very nervous on the last. I was shaking but I didn't want people to see. Hitting my rescue, I was so nervous, because I had memories from when I played in 2007 when I think I was in the lead as well. I pushed it because I got scared of the water and finished second, so I thought, 'Don't do the same.'

"I had my friend, Alexis, on the bag, which helped, because when you're nervous time can go so fast. The putt was still difficult but when Linda missed hers I felt some relief. I thought, at worst I'll be in a play-off."

Wessberg added: "I played well all day, started off really well, but then didn't really make any birdies and had a hard time hitting the fairway. The first cut is quite difficult when you're trying to attack the pins. I misjudged my putt on 17 going up the hill and thought it was going to be slower with the rain."

Morgan hauled herself back into contention with two birdies in three holes after the turn, but she dropped another shot at the 13th and could only par in to complete a 73 which earned her a share of third with American Beth Allen on nine under.

Allen reeled off four birdies in five holes around the turn and, after bogeys at 13 and 16, she picked up another shot at the penultimate hole before closing with a scrappy six when a birdie would have got her into the clubhouse on 11 under.

Earlier, Solheim Cup star Caroline Hedwall fired a course-record 64 including a remarkable run of five birdies in six holes from the 12th, lifting her into outright fifth and clinching one of three spots on offer for this week's Ricoh Women's British Open at Woburn along with Gwladys Nocera and Isabella Ramsay.