Victory for Hull in first Rose Ladies Series event

Charley Hull triumphed during the first of the Justin Rose sponsored Rose Ladies Series events following a play-off at Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club

Charley Hull defeated Liz Young on the first extra hole to become the first winner of the new Rose Ladies Series as women's professional golf made it's return at Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club.

The series, which is sponsored by Justin Rose and his wife Kate, was originally inspired by LET professional Liz Young’s efforts to put on a competition at her home club - and it was a fitting end that she should come up against Hull in a thrilling finale after the pair both carded level par rounds of 70 in overcast and windy conditions.

Young, who organised the event at the New Forest club, played in the first group and set the early clubhouse target before being matched by the Solheim Cup star.

Hull, who hadn't played a competitive round of golf in almost five months, was two strokes clear with two holes to play but double bogeyed the par four 17th hole after hitting a rescue wood into a ditch from the tee, and made par at the final hole to force sudden death.

Taking her chance at the first extra hole, Hull rolled in a birdie putt from 12 feet to win, before being presented with a rose bowl and winner’s cheque for £5,000 by Kate Rose.

Hull said: “I’m just so happy to be playing professional golf again and have a scorecard in my hand. The golf course was in great condition and it was my first time round here today. I was quite happy with my score. I doubled the 17th, because I took a wrong line off the tee, but it was just great to be playing.

“I’ve missed it loads. I love playing golf. I’m pretty much golfed out because I’ve been playing every day, but I can’t wait to get back out on tour.

“I want to thank Justin and Kate Rose for putting these events on. You need to be playing to get back in the mindset. I’ve been playing a lot for the last few weeks and I played eight days on the trot, but it’s not the same as having a scorecard in your hand. I’ll go back to America in four weeks’ time, so hopefully this will get my brain back into tournament golf."

Young, the world number 503, said that she was pleased with finishing second considering she hadn’t played a competitive round since the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in December.

“I was excited and really nervous. It has been a long time since a card was in the hand. I was playing on my own course, so had the home advantage, but I also know where all the trouble is. I was really happy with how I played and level par, because it was playing tough out there. I was playing well in practise and I just hadn’t put much time in on the course. It’s all coming together and I’m just excited that I’ve got another seven tournaments in which to play. This is the start of something great for UK golf and hopefully this will continue.”

There will be a Rose Ladies Series Event played on Thursday each week, leading up to the Grand Final on August 6-7. The opening round will be played at The Berkshire with the final round to be hosted on the famous West Course at Wentworth.