Golf: Matthew finishes fourth in the Shoprite LPGA Classic

NORTH BERWICK'S Catriona Matthew picked up a cheque for around £47,000 after finishing fourth in the Shoprite LPGA Classic in New Jersey.

The former British Women's Open champion covered her last five holes in three-under-par in closing with a 69 at the Seaview Course in Galloway.

She finished on nine-under 204, two shots behind winner Brittany Lincicome, who closed with a 66 to pip Jiyai Shin and Cristie Kerr for the title.

One behind Kerr at the start of play, Matthew's hopes of winning were dashed when she went out in 37, level-par, and then dropped a shot at short 11th. But she climbed back up the leaderboard again thanks to her strong finish.

It was the Scot's third top-ten placing on the year on the LPGA Tour and took her 2011 earnings to just under 100,000. On the European Tour, Elliot Saltman had a Saab Wales Open to remember at Celtic Manor.

Not only did the Archerfield Links ace finish a career-best 12th and earn more than 29,000, he also chalked up two holes-in-one at the same hole in a tournament.

The 29-year-old aced the 211-yard 17th in yesterday's final round, just as he had done in the opening round on Thursday. It was the first time it has happened on the circuit since Eamonn Darcy at the 1991 Mediterranean Open.

"I'm just overwhelmed with it - amazing," said Saltman, playing just his fifth event since returning from a three-month suspension for marking his ball incorrectly on the Challenge Tour.

On the European Senior Tour, Edinburgh's Andrew Oldcorn earned just over 20,000 as he finished runner-up to Australian Peter Fowler in the ISPS Handa Senior Masters at Stapleford Park in Melton Mowbray.