Stupples finish season strongly

England’s Karen Stupples continued her return to form following the arrival of her son, Logan, in April with a closing 69 for six under par in the Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions in Alabama.

The effort at the Mobile venue was enough to secure her first top 10 finish in seven starts on the LPGA Tour this year.

The former Women’s British Open Champion ran up a triple-bogey seven at the third in an outward 38, but hit back with a great back nine of five under 31 that included four birdies in a row from the turn.

She said: “This is a great way to end the season.

“I’ve had to make adjustments now that I have a baby to look after, but I’ve been working hard and this gives me a lot of incentive to make the most of the off season.

“My priority over the next few months is to really work on my physical fitness and get rid of the baby weight.”

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew fired the joint best round of the day with a flawless seven birdie 65 and finished on four under par and in 15th place.

The event was won by American Paula Creamer, who cruised to an eight-shot victory with a final round 68.

The 21-year-old had five birdies in the ideal scoring conditions – a bogey at the 18th was her first error since the ninth hole in the first round – and she finished on 20 under par.

South Korea’s Birdie Kim, the 2005 US Women’s Open Champion, was second on 12 under after a 68, with Annika Sorenstam (70), Natalie Gulbis (68) and Pat Hurst (72) tied for third on 10 under.

Creamer, 2005 LPGA Rookie of the Year, said: “I won a US junior tournament over this course so it’s special to come back and win as a professional.

“I was in control, but still had to stay focused. I was hoping to equal or beat the tournament record of 21 under but the bogey at the last cost me.

“But it feels really good to win for a second time this year and this has been a really exciting week.”