GEORGIA Hall booked her place in the Women's British Open before admitting she had relished the inclement conditions of final qualifying.

The Bournemouth ace today carded a four-under-par 70 at Irvine Golf Club in Ayrshire to secure her berth at Turnberry on Thursday.

Hall, who turned pro immediately after last year's Open, flourished as wind and rain battered the course on Scotland's west coast.

And that set up a third appearance at the world-famous tournament for the 19-year-old, who had shared the silver medal in 2013 and had finished as the second-highest amateur in last year's edition.

She told the Daily Echo: "I'm really excited and I can't wait to play in my third Open. Of course I would have liked to have got in automatically but I'm really happy I'm there now. I didn't want to miss it.

"It was raining throughout my round so it wasn't easy but I kept my head together. I normally play better in bad weather so I was actually quite looking forward to going out in it!

"I knew that the rain was going to affect some players but I just tried to play one shot at the time and not worry about the conditions.

"There were some easy holes and I managed to take advantage of them. I birdied the last couple and made some good putts so I was happy with my round.

"I felt I played really well and, hopefully, I can take that forward to the Open."

Charlotte Ellis was the only player to score lower than Hall, the Gloucestershire golfer and Ladies European Tour pro firing a five-under 69.

Hall recovered from a wayward drive and bogey at the first with birdies at the second, fifth and seventh.

Another gain followed at the 11th but a dropped shot on the par-four 15th set her back to two-under.

However, the former Curtis Cup star picked up further birdies on 17 and 18 to complete her round in style.

Sophie Keech gave an excellent account of herself as she shot two-over, the Parkstone amateur narrowly missing out on progress.

She made the ideal start with a birdie at the first but returned to level-par after the fourth.

A run of three bogeys in four holes severely dented Keech's qualification hopes but a birdie two at the 16th proved a fitting reward for her efforts.

Meanwhile, Brokenhurst Manor's Liz Young missed out on a berth at the Open following a play-off.

Young shot a level-par 74 and entered a six-way shootout, with four to progress.

However, Linnea Strom, Vikki Laing, Rebecca Hudson and Minea Blomqvist all made fours on the first play-off hole to advance.

Young has been handed the role of second reserve.