TRACY Loveys returned to the winner's rostrum again after claiming the Roehampton Golf Cup for the second time in three years.

The 33-year-old Broadstone assistant beat a host leading amateur and professionals including members of the Women's European Tour to take one of the most prestigious prizes in women's golf.

The field of more than 60 included players of the calibre of Lora Fairclough, Kirsty Taylor, Elinor Pilgrim and Caroline Hall, the former Curtis Cup player and European Tour winner from Filton who was runner-up.

Loveys, now back at Broadstone after a brief spell at a Wiltshire driving range, made an inauspicious start. A four-over-par 76 in admittedly difficult conditions did not suggest victory.

But once she had seen the lunchtime scores she discovered that other players had struggled just as much aiming for difficult pin positions on the bouncy greens. She was lying third.

But she soon forged ahead with an eagle at her first hole in the afternoon. Her 3-iron second shot downwind from 220 yards left her with a simple a four-foot putt on the par-five tenth.

She said: "I was disappointed with 76 as I carelessly missed a couple of short putts, but when I looked at the scores I realised that I could win.

"I resolved to do my best and I became really focused after the eagle and ended on one-under-par 71."

That was the outstanding round of the day and gave her a three-shot win over Hall who returned two 75s.

Loveys first started playing at Roehampton 15 years ago as a Dorset county amateur. She said: "The tournament is steeped in history and first started in 1926. There is always a good field and it's a good place to start the year."

Now Loveys, who made a successful playing mission to Portugal in a women's Pro-Am a few weeks ago, is concentrating on two objectives this year.

She wants to qualify for the WPGA Championship at Royal Porthcawl and the British Open by playing well in three WPGA medals at Bearwood Lakes, Forest Pines and Henbury on July14.