Johnson ends season in style

England's Trish Johnson ended the season in style when she claimed her second win of the season in thrilling style today at the Marrakesh Palmeraie Open in Morocco.

England's Trish Johnson ended the season in style when she claimed her second win of the season in thrilling style today at the Marrakesh Palmeraie Open in Morocco.

With birdies at the first seven holes in an outward half of 29, the 33-year-old, who had led by one overnight, killed off the opposition and went on to shoot five under par 67 and win the £15,000 first prize by a comfortable five shots on 12 under 204.

Valerie Van Ryckeghem was second, the young Belgian adding to the amazing entertainment by opening with an eagle, birdie, then a par eagle hole-in-one in a course record 66.

For Johnson, winner of the French Open in July, the victory was the perfect end to a season in which she has only twice finished outside the top 10 in 12 starts.

"It's certainly a lovely way to finish the year," she said. "I've played really well all season and this week the putts started to fall.

"The only slight disappointment today was missing my 15 foot birdie putt at the eighth which ended the run. By then I was six ahead and after that miss it was difficult to get going again."

In fact, she dropped shots at the 11th and 16th in a homeward 38.

Over the front seven, she mixed some wonderful iron play with some great from on the greens. The longest putt she holed was from 30 feet at the 153 yards fourth - the same hole where Van Ryckeghem holed a seven iron for the hole in one.

Johnson, who admits she hates playing in the US, will again be lending her support to the women's tour next season.

"The way I've played this year already has me looking forward to next year," she continued after collecting her 12th European trophy in 13 years on the circuit.

"I'll play in America and try to get the mandatory 15 events out of the way early in the year and then play back here."

For Johnson, the main event will be the Solheim Cup at Loch Lomond.

The £15,000 first prize saw Johnson finish fourth on the money list with £117,213. Laura Davies, the season's only three time winner, had long ago made sure she would be European number one for a fifth time in 15 seasons with £204,521.

Final Scores and totals in the Marrakesh Palmeraie Open in Morocco.(Gbr & Irland unless stated):

204 T Johnson 70 67 67209 V Van Ryckeghem (Bel) 71 72 66210 R Carriedo (Spa) 69 69 72211 C Schmitt (Fra) 69 74 68212 M Hedblom (Swe) 71 71 70, J Morley 70 70 72214 S Mendiburu (Fra) 75 71 68, L Maritz (Rsa) 72 73 69, D Booker (Aus) 75 69 70, A Arruti (Spa) 72 71 71215 I Maconi (Ita) 73 74 68, S Strudwick 75 71 69, R Lautens (Swi) 74 71 70, K Taylor 69 73 73, V Stensrud (Nor) 70 71 74216 P Sterner (Swe) 74 73 69, L Fairclough 72 73 71, S Head 69 75 72, SGustafson (Swe) 71 73 72, E Ratcliffe 72 71 73, W Dicks 72 70 74, K Orum (Den) 70 68 78217 S Gronberg Whitmore (Swe) 73 71 73, S Arricau (Fra) 68 76 73, S Dickens 71 72 74, N Karlsson 71 71 75, M De Boer (Ned) 72 70 75, E Steen (Swe) 72 69 76218 J Forbes 75 73 70, L Tadiotto (Bel) 75 70 73, C Kuld (Den) 74 71 73, A Rogers 74 70 74, A Larraneta (Spain) 71 72, J Mills (Australia) 68 75 75, E Poburski (Ger) 67 76 75, J Leary (Aus) 69 73 76219 C Hall 70 69 70, M L de Lorenzi (Fra) 74 73 72, M Monnet (Fra) 72 7473220 L Kreutz (Fra) 74 75 71, L Brooky (Nzl) 74 74 72, C Dibnah (Aus) 72 76 72, T Craik 76 72 72, M Hageman (Ned) 74 73 73, K Marshall 74 71 75, N Moult 73 71 76221 E Esterl (Ger) 80 70 71, J Van Hagen (Ned) 71 75 75222 M Arruti (Spa) 78 71 73, R Hakkarainen (Fin) 73 76 73, S Westling (Swe) 74 74 74223 M Lojdahl (Swe) 72 74 77, A Munt (Aus) 72 70 81224 J Stalvant (Swe) 75 75 74, V Roques (Fra) 75 74 75, T Hjerstedt (Swe) 75 71 78225 M Vierspieran (Fra) 71 74 80226 R Kirkwood 76 73 77228 S Eklund (Swe) 71 78 79, S Fischer (Aut) 74 74 80