The will be no Irish players in the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes after Rebecca Coakely and Claire Coughlan-Ryan narrowly failed to qualify.

The pair shot two-over par 76s in Final Qualifying at Fairhaven GC in Lancashire to finish one stoke outside a 14-strong play-off for the final qualifying spot.

The play-off lasted five holes before Swedish amateur Caroline Hedwall, beaten in the British Women's Open amateur championship final at North Berwick last year, won the last of the 20 places available in the championship.

Hazel Kavanagh shot a four over par 78, Royal County Down amateur Danielle McVeigh a 79 and Martin Gillen an 80.

America’s Jill McGill carded a fine three under par 71 in blustery conditions to claim top spot.Rookie of the Year on the LPGA Tour in 1996, McGill carded five birdies and two bogeys to finish one shot ahead of South Africa’s Stacy Bregman and compatriot Reilly Rankin and in the process claim the first of 20 places available for the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open which starts at Royal Lytham & St Annes on Thursday.