Johnson claims Ladies Tartan Tour win

Trish Johnson from Wiltshire scored the 23^rd win worldwide of her pro golf career over the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews, Fife.

The occasion was the opening 36-hole, two-day event on the PGA in Scotland's Paul Lawrie Ladies Tartan Tour.

The 48-year-old former Solheim Cup player, whose wins in a 17-year career as a professional straddle the Atlantic, shot rounds of 72 and 71 for a one-under-par aggregate of 143.

Playing on this tour for the first time, Johnson, the biggest name in the field of 30, picked up the £2,500 prize by one shot from rookie pro Amy Boulden, daughter of the Conwy Golf Club pro in North Wales.

Boulden, a heroine for GB&I in the 2012 Curtis Cup victory over the Americans at Nairn, had scores of 73 and 71 for 144, one shot short of matching the winner.

Another rookie and past Curtis Cup player, Edinburgh-born Sally Watson, finished a creditable third on 145 with scores of 74 and 71.

Wales' Becky Brewerton, also a past Solheim Cup and Curtis Cup star, joint overnight leader with Johnson finished fourth on 148 with rounds of 72-76. Brewerton bogeyed the second, third, fourth and sixth, which left playing partner Johnson in the clear.

Johnson emphasised her superiority on the day by birdieing the third and fourth in a two-under-par outward half of 34. She did bogey the 10^th, 13^th and 14^th after the turn but birdies at the short 11^th and 16^th would prove vital in the end as one Welsh challenger was replaced by another - Amy Boulden.

Boulden had an eventful one-under-par 71 made up on six birdies and five bogeys. She birdied the third, fourth, eighth, 12^th, 14^th and 16^th but shed shots at the second, fifth, sixth, 10^th and 15^th in halves of 36-35.

Boulden's cheque for £1,250 was very probably the highest so far in her fledgling pro career.

Much the same could be said for Sally Watson, warming up for the LET after finished second in the Qualifying School a few months back.

Stanford University graduate Watson was the third player to notch a sub-par 71 on the second day over the Torrance Course. She earned £750. The Scot had a very steady round with only three deviations from par - birdies at the fourth and seventh plus a solitary bogey at the 10^th in halves of 34-37.

Alford's Laura Murray, who is attached to the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, should have her confidence boosted with a fourth place finish in this classy company. Former Scottish amateur champion Murray shot 77-72 for 149 and earned £350. She had three birdies and three bogeys in halves of 35-37.

The next 36-hole event on the Paul Lawrie Ladies Tartan Tour is over the Murcar Links, north of Aberdeen on May 8 and 9.