Flawless final round from Catriona Matthew but Shin's 67 gives her Evian victory

Catriona Matthew shot a great final round of 67 at the Evian Masters in France yesterday, just the score she was looking for before she headed to Royal Birkdale and the defence of the Ricoh Women's British Open.

The Scot finished with a flawless five-birdie round over the tough course to finish on four under par and in a tie for 23rd place. Jiyai Shin, the 2008 Ricoh Women's British Open Champion, claimed the title by holing a nine-foot birdie putt at the 18th a few hours later.

With a 67 for 14 under par, the 22-year-old South Korean, who will move back to the top of the world rankings, edged home by a shot from Morgan Pressel (70), Na Yeon Choi (66) and the precocious 15-year-old Alexis Thompson - or Lexi as she prefers to be known - who birdied the last from 12 feet for a 67.

It was just the third professional event for Thompson - she finished tenth in the US Women's Open two weeks ago - and she collected a handsome cheque of more than 100,000. Unfortunately, she will be not be at Birkdale this week because she could not play in the qualifying events.

With her Dad, Scott, on the bag, the girl, who is home-schooled, showed no fear with seven birdies as she followed in the footsteps of Michelle Wie, who also finished second as a 15-year-old in 2005.

It was a 31st win worldwide for Shin, although the first this year. It was just six weeks ago that she underwent an emergency appendix operation, but yesterday she lived up to her nickname of "the final day queen" with a great five birdie round.

Pressel, the third round leader, holed out with her wedge for an eagle at the fifth and was never behind until she missed her eight-foot birdie chance.

"I can't believe it," said Shin, the first Korean winner at Evian. "I was so nervous at the last two holes. I felt ready to play again (after the operation] two weeks ago, and this proves I am able to win again."

Matthew flies to Lancashire this morning and will meet up with coach Kevin Craggs to put the final polish to her game before teeing it up at Birkdale on Thursday as the reigning champion. She's looking forward to the challenge.

"I really like Birkdale and my game feels good," said Matthew, who became the first Scot to win a women's major at Lytham a year ago, just 11 weeks after the arrival of daughter Sophie.

This year, Sophie and big sister, Katie (3), will be at home with the grandparents in North Berwick and watching on the TV.

The Matthews - husband Graeme is Catriona's caddie - decided that having to cope with a couple of toddlers and all the demands of a defending champion might be a little too taxing. In fact, it's been a rare two-week stint away from the children.

On a glorious final day at Evian, Matthew birdied the second, third and eighth in an outward 33 and completed the faultless display with more gains at the ninth and 16th.

Janice Moodie, the second Scot in the field and another heading for Birkdale, had a less promising finale.

On level par going into the final round, she closed with a really disappointing 79 and finished on seven over par.