MI JUNG Hur fired a five-under par 66 – the joint lowest round of the day – to earn a four-stroke victory in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, at The Renaissance Club.

The 29-year-old South Korean, who led by two at the halfway stage of the tournament after a nine-under par 62, came from a stroke back entering the final round to win with a 20-under total in wet conditions at North Berwick.

Despite having set the tournament scoring record after two rounds, and having earned a runner-up finish in the event at Dundonald two years ago, Hur revealed she had never previously been a fan of links golf.

“Actually, I don’t like links courses, but after this week, I love them,” said Hur, whose neon yellow waterproofs were decorated with the slogan “Win at all costs.”

Hur claimed her first LPGA Tour victory as a rookie in 2009 and then another five years ago in 2014.

Five years had passed since her last title and it was her first victory after getting married last year.

Mi Jung thanked her Scottish caddie Gary Marshall for helping to keep her clubs and balls dry – and for encouragement throughout the severe and changeable conditions over the four days.

Hur revealed: “On the first day, I made a birdie and then two bogeys. Then Gary told me on the fourth hole, come on MJ, you can win this.

“He said that again today – again on the fourth tee after I’d just made a three-putt – so that helped a lot.”

Hur began her final round with a bogey on the third hole and trailed after eight holes.

But she made her first birdie of the day on the par-three ninth, sinking a putt from six feet, to enter a four-way tie for the lead.

After making her fourth straight birdie putt, from just inside 30 feet, on the par-five 12^th hole, the Texas-based professional felt she could win the tournament.

She made another great putt from five feet on the 16^th to grab a three-stroke advantage – and then polished off the round with her sixth birdie of the day on the 18th.

US Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6, who shot a final round of 70, and third-round leader Moriya Jutanugarn (71) tied for second position on 16-under, with 2017 Scottish Open champion Mi Hyang Lee a stroke back in fourth place.

Thailand’s defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn was two shots further adrift in fifth.

With a tie for sixth, alongside Minjee Lee and Elizabeth Szokol, Holland’s Anne Van Dam moved up to second on the LET Solheim Cup points list.

The host nation’s hopes had rested on Carly Booth, who was tied for ninth and won the Douglas Lowe Memorial Trophy as the top performing Scot in the tournament, after a final round 71.

Open raises £9k for Dementia UK

DEMENTIA UK,  who provide specialist dementia support for families through its Admiral Nurse service, benefited to the tune of £9,050 as the Official Charity of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club this week.

Part of that figure came from a ‘birdie pledge’ initiative, backed by the title sponsors whereby every birdie and eagle made by the professionals resulted in £5 and £10 being contributed to the fundraising tally

The scheme raised £7,566, with 1,339 birdies and 43 eagles being made across the four tournament days.

An additional three-hole-in-ones – by Laura Davies, Cajsa Persson and Jacqui Concolino – contributed an additional £441 with £1 being donated for every yard of the tee shot holed.

The birdie pledge contribution combined with the sale of daily prize draw raffle tickets and donations for official draw sheets, contributed close to £1,500 to the total amount.

The remainder was raised through kind gestures made at Dementia UK’s exhibition stand in the tournament village.

Dementia UK’s director of fundraising Martin Bishop said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone at Aberdeen Standard Investments and everyone involved in the Ladies Scottish Open and the staff at The Renaissance Club for supporting Dementia UK and raising this great amount.

“The Ladies Scottish Open is a fantastic event with some spectacular golf on a superb course and the money raised through everyone’s passion and dedication is simply amazing.

“The funds raised will go a long way in helping families facing dementia through our specialist Admiral Nurse service and our national Dementia Helpline.”

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European Challenge Tour graduate Robert MacIntyre will fly the Saltire flag during the Scottish Open when he tees it up with four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy and defending champion Brandon Stone, on Thursday. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SCOTLAND’S Robert MacIntyre will start this week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open in the company of 2015 champion Rickie Fowler and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy.

The 22-year-old, who graduated from the European Challenge Tour last year, is in the marquee TV group for the third Rolex Series event of the season which gets under way tomorrow (Thursday), and will be broadcast on Sky.

MacIntyre, who lost in the 2016 Amateur Championship final to Hampshire’s Scott Gregory, impressed with consecutive runner-up finishes at the Betfred British Masters, at Hillside, and Made in Denmark in May.

Scot MacIntyre, who hails from Oban, now has his sights set on an exciting first appearance in his national Open at The Renaissance Club, in North Berwick.

MacIntyre, who is attached to Glencruitten GC, said: “I’ve got to be thrown in at the deep end at some point. It’s just about learning from this. It’s another step in the learning experience for me.

“In my first year, I’ve had quite a few already and this is going to be another one. It’s going to be another special week for me, and not just me, but my family. To be out with them in your first Scottish Open is pretty special.

“I’m sure the crowds are going to be unbelievable anyway. Home soil for the first time is going to be something different.

“Playing the Challenge Tour was good but to finally play a Scottish Open is something I’ll never forget,” added MacIntyre, who tees off with McIlroy at 1.40pm, on Thursday.

Defending champion Brandon Stone returns to East Lothian after his success last year at Gullane.

Stone said: “The greens are quite severe. A lot of tricky sloping, it should prove a true test.

“If the wind picks up like it might, that typical Scottish links breeze, it might be a little bit more penal for the guys that are hitting it a bit more wayward – but the course is in fantastic condition, it really is. The greens are great.

“They are having a lot of rain at the moment but at the same time the course is holding up quite well.

“It’s going to be a true test and you’ll have to play great golf and it’s going to be a great test before next week at Royal Portrush for The Open.”

The South African became the fourth player in European Tour history to card a winning final round of 60 as he won his third European Tour title.

Russell Knox, the highest-ranked Scot in the field this week, will go in search of his second Rolex Series title after his stunning victory at last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Knox holed a 60-foot putt at Ballyliffin to force a play-off against Ryan Fox and then made an almost-identical putt on the first extra hole to win his second European Tour title.

Knox admitted this week that being based in the United States had hurt his Ryder Cup hopes, after he was overlooked for a captain’s pick by both Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn in 2016 and 2018 despite winning once in the States as well as in Europe.

Knox, who moved permanently to the States in 2007 – after attending Florida’s Jacksonville University – said: “I actually thoroughly enjoyed slashing it on the range in the rain.

“It’s been a while since I put on the rain suit and just hit balls on the range in the rain. I kind of wanted to practice a little bit today, even though it was pouring rain.

“But no, it’s amazing to be back. Always feel like I’m at home instantly when I touch back on Scottish soil.” added the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions winner.

Despite being a US citizen, Knox still very much feels Scottish and praised the current group of Scots battling their way to earn and keep their cards.

That group includes MacIntyre and Victoria Open winner David Law, while Euan Walker lost in the Amateur Championship final at Portmarnock, last month, as MacIntyre did three years ago, plus Challenge Tour graduates Liam Johnston and Grant Forrest.

Knox said: “I sure hope one of these young guys turns out to be 10 times the player I am. It would be great for Scotland.

“It’s been great – it’s been coming for a few years. It was obvious that there was going to be a next wave of great players, and it’s obviously here now.

“It’s great for Scottish golf, great for the European Tour, and hopefully this week, one of us will play well.”

As well as Tour veterans and Scottish Ryder Cup players Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher, the Saltire will be flown by the likes of David Drysdale, former US Amateur winner Richie Ramsay, Scott Jamieson and Marc Warren, who have 19 wins on the European Tour between them.

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