Trish Johnson completes wire-to-wire victory at inaugural Senior LPGA Championship

Briton Trish Johnson completed a wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural Senior LPGA Championship presented by Old National Bank on Wednesday on the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort.

She turned in a final-round 73 to finish at 4-under, 212 for the 54-hole event, three shots clear of American Michele Redman.

"I'm often asked what my favourite course in the world is and I always say St. Andrews, but I think this place (Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort) has taken over," said Johnson.

"When I get to St Andrews I just love it and the first time I came here I sat on top of the road and thought, 'wow, this is special'. The people here are very special, they are so welcoming. It is like one happy family.

"I hit my driver so well all week. I was quite long so I was hitting a lot of short irons in. Some of these greens are pretty wicked so if you have short clubs in that is a major advantage.

"It feels fantastic, this is the reason you play golf to try and win something like this. It is going to be a very, very fun evening. Hopefully, this is the first of many."

Johnson posted rounds of 67-72-73 to win the first place check of $90,000. Redman collects the second place payday of $54,397.

The 51-year-old started steady with four pars and then made a birdie on five to get to 6-under. Redman started the day three shots back, but hit a double-bogey on three to leave the lead at six shots. Johnson hit a bogey on seven and Redman made birdie on nine leaving the lead four at the turn.

Redman made back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12 and pulled within three, but that is as close as she would get. Johnson made a critical par save from 10-feet on 14 and held on. She made bogey on 15 and then three pars to end the day.

Johnson did most of her damage on day one with a 5-under, 67 that included seven birdies. She did it in the most difficult conditions of the week.