North Berwick golf ace Catriona Matthew was left distraught after missing out on a major title on the third hole of a play-off on Sunday.

Matthew had had momentum with her when overhauling a seven-point deficit to tie Norway's Suzan Pettersen in the LPGA HanaBank Championship in South Korea and the first two holes of the play-off finished level, but a birdie from Pettersen at the third time of asking denied the county golfer.

There had seemed no prospect of the 43-year-old former British Open winner being in with a chance of victory at the start of the final day's play in Incheon thanks to Pettersen's overwhelming lead, which had come courtesy of a course record 63 in the first round, then a four-under 68 in the second to start the day at 13-under, five strokes ahead of her nearest challenger.

But Matthew was inspired on the front nine while Pettersen melted under the pressure. Indeed, after Pettersen double-bogeyed the par-three 12th, Matthew had made up an incredible nine shots on the Scandinavian to lead the field by two strokes at six-under on the day.

However, Pettersen - whose early-day struggles had seen her double bogey the third and drop another shot on the eighth - reduced the deficit to one stroke with a birdie at the 14th, and she was level again after Matthew dropped a shot with a bogey at the 16th.

Both players managed pars on the final two holes to see them both finish with an 11-under 205, 2007 champion Pettersen after a two-over 74 and Matthew following her five-under 67.

Nailbiting drama then ensued, as twice the pair halved the 18th, both sinking their putts to par in five strokes.

But come the third extra hole there was to be no joy for Archerfield golfer Matthew, Pettersen this time holding her nerve to put away her five-foot birdie putt and take the title for a second time.