Heath is delighted with third place

Shropshire golfer Sarah Heath has claimed a cheque for £5,000 after finishing in third place in a tournament in Sweden.

The 26-year-old from Telford finished on a total of five-over-par in the Telenor Masters, the opening tournament on the SAS Masters Tour.

Heath shot three-over-par rounds of 76 and 71 on two different courses, Barseback and St Ibb.

She then returned to Barseback for the final day and carded a one-under-par round of 72 after playing the final nine holes in two-under-par.

That left her eight shots behind home winner Caroline Hedall, but ahead of former Solheim Cup star Catrin Nilsmark. And Heath was thrilled with her performance.

"It was a really good week," she said. "I hit the ball really well and just had a bad hole in each of the first two rounds.

"I really enjoyed being up there contending and it felt as though I belonged there. To play the back nine on the last day well when it mattered was really pleasing and great for confidence."

Heath is hoping to use the SAS Masters circuit as a launchpad to earn full playing rights back on the full Ladies European Tour in 2009.

She must finish in the top two on the order of merit to achieve that, and heads to Stockholm for the second tournament in three weeks.

By James Garrison