And then there were two.

Catriona Matthew, Scotland's highest ranked golfer on the world stage, had been the only home player guaranteed a tee-time for this week's Ricoh Women's British Open Championship at St Andrews until Carly Booth doubled the meagre tally last night.

The Perthshire youngster had to do it the hard way, though. In the 18-hole final qualifying shoot-out at Kingsbarns, Booth emerged from a 12-woman play-off to decide the last four remaining places in the fourth major on the female calendar.

The 21-year-old, who missed the cut in last year's championship at Hoylake and also contested this season's US Women's Open, had given herself a fighting chance of a St Andrews spot with a three-under-par 69 over the tricky Kingsbarns links. With 16 qualifying places on offer, Booth finished on the cut-off point and joined the throng for the sudden-death decider.

The former Curtis Cup player, who won twice on the Ladies European Tour last year, showed her qualities under pressure and made a birdie-3 on the 10th, the first extra-hole, to progress along with Tania Elosegui of Spain and the Swedish duo, Louise Larsson and Camilla Lennarth. "I made it, couldn't be happier," was Booth's simple statement of jubilation.

The leaderboard was topped by the impressive Chinese teenager, Xiyu Lin, who surged to the head of the standings with a sparkling seven-under 65. The 17-year-old raced to the turn in 32 before bolstering her assault with a trio of gains at the 14th, 15th and 16th. Lin, who will join a formidable contingent from the Far East which is headlined by the world No 1 Inbee Park of Korea, finished a stroke clear of England's Emily Taylor and Malene Jorgensen of Denmark.

Welsh amateur Amy Boulden secured a second successive appearance in the Women's Open with a 68 that was aided by a haul of four birdies and an eagle on her front nine.

There was disappointment though for Bothwell Castle's Pamela Pretswell, as she fell short of the play-off by a single shot. Kelsey MacDonald, the Nairn rookie, also finished on the two-under mark while Musselburgh's Vikki Laing and former Scottish Women's Amateur champion Michele Thomson failed to make the grade with 72s.

Cheyenne Woods, whose well-kent uncle Tiger won two Open Championships at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005, won't be following in those triumphant footsteps, for now at least, as the 23-year-old rookie could only manage a 74 to finish out of the qualifying picture.