KENT golfer Karen Stupples was fying back to America today after finishing the leading British player in the Weet-abix Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s.

Stupples, now based in Florida with her husband David, finished joint 12th at Lytham after rounds of 69, 74, 70 and 74 gave her a one under par total of 287, nine shots behind the winner, Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam.

It was the 30-year-old former Walmer School pupil’s best ever finish in the British Open and lifted her to 37th place on the US Women’s Tour money list - which counts the British Open as one of its tournaments - with earnings for the season of $215,240.

Speaking from her parents’ home in James Hall Gardens, Deal, where she has been enjoying a few days’ rest and relaxation before returning to America, Stupples said: “I was much better prepared this time than I have been for previous British Opens. I had a really good feeling about the course and I loved playing links golf again.”

Stupples plans to join the European Tour next year and play in at least three tournaments in 2004 and in 2005, which will make her eligible for selection for the next Solheim Cup match in two years’ time.