Hjorth takes English title

FINAL LEADERBOARD -19 M Hjorth (Swe) -13 J Mills (Aus) -12 K Stupples (GB) & A Gottmo (Swe) -11 T Johnson (GB) & A Monke (Ger)

Sweden's Maria Hjorth won her first European Tour title in the English Ladies Open at Charts Hill in Kent.

Hjorth equalled the course record with a round of 64 and set a new 54-hole tour winning record finishing 19-under.

She closed six shots clear of Australia's Joanne Mills while England's Karen Stupples came home tied for third with Sweden's Asa Gottmo.

The win was enough to qualify Hjorth for the Evian Masters, the second richest event in women's golf.

And the victory proved she was right to temporarily abandon a struggling season in America and return home to Europe.

"I came back to try to ease the pressure a little and it worked," Hjorth said.

"I also realised that a European victory was one of my last chances to win a place in Evian. That was my goal and I've achieved it.

"I've been really struggling with my driving in America but I hit it really well all week here and I hope this is a turnaround in my season."