SCOTLAND’S top women’s golf event has been hailed a great success – despite challenging weather conditions.

Thousands of people attended the tournament at The Renaissance Club between last Thursday and Sunday.

Mi Jung Hur emerged victorious on Sunday evening, taking victory by four shots from Moriya Jutanugarn and Jeongeun Lee.

Provost John McMillan, East Lothian Council’s spokesman for tourism and economic development, was on hand to congratulate the South Korean winner, who finished second three years ago in the same competition when it was played at Dundonald Links, near Troon.

Speaking to the Courier on Monday, he said: “I think it was just a great bit of organisation.

“I have not seen the final numbers but, even with the bad weather, they were hoping to get record visitors.

“I was down for a wee while on Thursday and Friday and then they got a brilliant day on Saturday when I was elsewhere.

“Sunday was just a great feat of organisation and collaboration to get through it.

“The winner was just so pleased to have won; she was delighted.”

Torrential rain on Friday saw play suspended and further downpours throughout much of Sunday meant surface water had to be squeegeed off the course.

Gael Pollitt, chairman of Scotland’s Golf Coast, was pleased to say the four-day tournament had proven a success, despite those conditions.

He said: “Despite facing some of the harshest weather conditions we have experienced on Scotland’s Golf Coast this year, there was some outstanding golf played by many of the finest women exponents of the game.

“The entry listed featured three of the World Top 10 players, as well as all the leading European players anxious to catch the eye of European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew before she announced her team for the match against the United States at Gleneagles next month.

“The Renaissance course stood up well to the heavy rain and many of the competitors talked favourably of not only the challenging course but also of the facilities and the warm welcome they received wherever they went in East Lothian.

“Ladies Day on the Saturday was a major success, despite the atrocious weather that was forecast, which thankfully missed the area.

“With free admission and a welcome drink offered to all ladies, it was encouraging to see both lady golfers and non-golfers turn up in such good numbers.

“This was followed by Solheim Cup Day on the Sunday when again many spectators turned up sporting the colours of either the US or Europe.

“There is no doubting the tourism benefits that worldwide TV coverage of events like the Men’s and Ladies Scottish Opens brings to East Lothian and our summer of golf continues with the Scottish Senior Open at Craigielaw Golf Club this week and the World Hickory Championship in October to look forward to.”

Fiona Hyslop MSP, Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, was among those at the course, near Dirleton, which last month held the men’s event, won by Bernd Wiesberger.

She said: “It was fantastic that this major tournament was played in East Lothian, an area famed for its many excellent golf courses.

“Stunning pictures from this beautiful region of Scotland were beamed into millions of homes around the world, hopefully inspiring people to come and visit.

“I was also pleased to see such a diverse crowd, including lots of young people and families, who enjoyed world-class golf and had the chance to have a great day out.”