KAREN STUPPLES made just the start to her new golf season she was looking for in the opening event of the US Women’s Tour in Hawaii.

The former British Open champion, from Deal, finished in fourth place in the SBS Open on the island of Oahu to pick up a cheque for $50,558.

After carding rounds of 70 and 71, Karen finished the 56-hole tournament with a superb final round of a five-under-par 67 for an eight-under-par total of 208, two shots adrift of the winner, Joo Mi Kim, of South Korea.

Kim beat compatriot Soo Young Moon and Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa at the second play-off hole.

Stupples’ father Alan said: "Karen is delighted. She’s pleased to have blown the cobwebs away, and the only disappointing thing was that she had three sixes [on her card] in the second round. Other than that she played really well."