A POOR first round ruined Karen Stupples’ chances of reaching the million dollar mark for the season in the final US Women’s Golf Tour event of 2004.

Deal’s British Open champion needed to win at least $48,000 in the ADT Tournament of Champions at West Palm Beach in Florida to break the million mark.

But instead Karen had to settle for a cheque for $16,750 after finishing in joint 13th place with a one-over-par total of 289, 14 shots behind the winner, Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam.

Karen stumbled to a four-over-par 76 in the opening round, but then recovered with rounds of 70, 73 and 70.

Stupples has finished the season in a career-high sixth place on the final LPGA moneylist with a total of $968,852 - an improvement of 29 places and $643,088 on her 2003 record.

After spending Christmas in Deal, Karen will begin preparing for her appearance in the Women’s World Cup in South Africa in February, when she and Laura Davies will represent England.