GB&Ire unless stated -19 Karen Stupples -14 Rachel Teske (Aus) -13 Heather Bowie (US)

The 30-year-old grabbed five birdies on the back nine to seal her first major title and finish on 19 under par.

Australia's Rachel Teske was five shots behind, with American Heather Bowie one shot further back on 13 under.

Stupples trailed both Bowie and Teske by one shot going into the final round, but found her form when it mattered to claim the �160,000 first prize.

"It's very hard to take on board right now," Stupples said.

"My family were here watching which makes it very special."

The Kent-based player started superbly with an eagle and an albatross, before a run of three straight birdies from the 15th finally put her clear.

"Starting like that, I thought: 'It's going to be my day'. But I didn't really stop worrying until I was on the 18th green," she added.

I think this (tournament) shows it's not enough to shoot under par any more Annika Sorenstam

Stupples became only the third Englishwoman to claim a major golf championship, and the first since Alison Nicholas won the US Open in 1996.

Laura Davies, with four, is the other English major winner.

Stupples, whose first win in five years as a professional was in the LPGA Tour season opener in Tucson, Arizona, is the first British winner of the Open title since Penny Grice-Whittaker in 1991.

Her winning total of 269 tied the record for a major set by Dottie Pepper at the 1999 Nabisco Championship, and the championship mark of Karrie Webb at the same course in 1997, four years before the event became a major.

Annika Sorenstam, the defending champion chasing her eighth major and second this season, finished in a tie for 12th place on eight-under.

The Swede, who successfully defended her LPGA Championship in June, had been attempting to tie Mickey Wright's record of back-to-back Grand Slam victories.

Wright won the 1958-59 U.S. Opens, '60-61 LPGA Championships, '61-62 Titleholders and '62-63 Western Opens.

"Of course I'm disappointed," Sorenstam said. "I gave it all I have got this week but it was tough for me.

"I missed a few shots here and there and I really couldn't get it going.

"It's just unfortunate. I thought I was prepared, I came in with a lot of good thoughts. Life goes on. I think I under-estimated some of the rough areas around here."