CHARLEY HULL WINS FIRST ROSE LADIES' SERIES EVENT

Charley Hull beat Liz Young in a play-off to win the first Justin Rose Ladies' Series tournament at Brockenhurst Manor Golf Club.

Justin Rose Ladies Series, Brockenhurst Manor Golf Club
Level: C Hull*, E Young;  +1 G Cowley;  +2 H Burke
Selected:  +3 A Hewson;  +5 G Dryburgh, M MacLaren;  +7 L Davies
* denotes winner after play-off

Solheim Cup player Charley Hull denied the event organiser Liz Young a dream victory in the opening event of the new Justin Rose Ladies Series at Brokenhurst Manor in Hampshire.

Young, who was in the first group to tee-off at the Hampshire golf course on Thursday morning, was three over par after 12 holes, but eagled the par-four 13th and birdied the 15th to set a clubhouse lead with a level-par 70. Hull was leading by two shots with two to play, but a double-bogey six on the par-four 17th dropped her back to finish level par alongside Young. However, Hull made no mistake in the play-off, holing a 12ft putt for birdie on the first hole to land the £5,000 top prize.

Gemma Dryburgh, the only Scot in the field, finished in a tie for seventh along with Meghan MacLaren after a 75.

Laura Davies who finished with a 77 said:

“I thought I’d played rather well and shot seven over. I came here expecting to play a nice friendly golf course and instead it was a monster. It was set up like the US Open.”

Charley Hull, whose last competitive round of golf was five months ago at the Gainbridge LPGA tournament in Florida said:

"I'm just so happy to be playing professional golf again and have a scorecard in my hand."

"The golf course was in great condition and it was my first time round here today. I was quite happy with my score. I doubled the 17th, because I took a wrong line off the tee, but it was just great to be playing."

"I've missed it loads. I love playing golf. I'm pretty much golfed out because I've been playing every day, but I can't wait to get back out on tour."

"I want to thank Justin and Kate Rose for putting these events on. You need to be playing to get back in the mindset. I've been playing a lot for the last few weeks and I played eight days on the trot, but it's not the same as having a scorecard in your hand."

The next tournament in the Justin Rose Ladies' Series is at Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire on Thursday 25 June.