KENT'S Karen Stupples produced the best performance of her golfing career at the weekend to finish joint third at the Safeway Classic in Portland, Oregon.

Her prize of $58,750 (£38,149) ensured that the 29-year-old former Walmer School pupil achieved her season’s aim of finishing in the top 50 on the US women’s tour money list for the first time. Stupples rose to 47th following the Safeway tournament, the final counting event for this year’s moneylist.

The Florida-based Deal professional, in her fourth season on the LPGA tour, finished tied on 12-under-par 204 with American Rosie Jones for the three-round tournament at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club.

The pair were five shots behind the winner, Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, and four behind another American, Kate Golden.

Stupples, whose parents Eileen and Alan live in James Hall Gardens, had been lying in second spot, three shots behind Sorenstam, after a splendid six-under-par second round 66.

In a final round of 70, she again carded five birdies and an eagle. But five bogeys spoilt her chance of drawing level with world No 1 Sorenstam, who secured her eighth title of the year.