Golf: Laing's late surge in France keeps her in the top ten

MUSSELBURGH golfer Vikki Laing cemented her place in the top ten on the Henderson Money List after a last-round surge in the Open de France Féminin.

She bagged six birdies in a closing 67 to finish in a tie for 16th on five-under-par 283, nine shots behind winner Trish Johnson.

Laing has now finished in the top 20 in her last three events on the LET and a cheque for just under 2,900 in Paris keeps her in ninth spot on the money-list.

Johnson, who blew a good chance to win the Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield Links last month, claimed her 20th career title by defeating Italy's Diana Luna on the first play-off hole.

Luna missed her 12-foot birdie putt on the first play-off hole - the par-5 18th - allowing Johnson to claim her second title of the season by rolling in a three-foot birdie putt.

On the Challenge Tour, Elliot Saltman finished 36th in the Kazakhstan Open after a closing 71 for seven-under 281.

The Aegon-sponsored player picked up a cheque for 2,220 and is sitting 44th on the Challenge Tour rankings heading into another big-money event in Russia later this week.

Raymond Russell (17th) is now among three Scots in the top 20, George Murray dropping to seventh after Kazakhstan, where Scott Jamieson's strong finish to share second spot moved him up to 20th.

Meanwhile, Stephen Gallacher is still lying 21st on the Race to Dubai despite his missed cut in the KLM Open in Holland - the first time he'd missed out on playing in the final two rounds in 12 events.