Dubai: England’s Charley Hull won the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit with a 10-under par tied-for-fifth finish at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Saturday.

Hull’s nearest rival on the money list, France’s Gwladys Nocera, would have had to finish in top four in the hope that Hull fell as far as 30th on the leaderboard in order to overtake her at this €500,000 (Dh2.3 million) season-ender. Nocera, however, posted an eight-under par tied-for-11th finish.

“It feels really good to win,” said Hull, who shot rounds of 67, 70, 69, 72 (278). “I wanted to follow up winning last year’s LET Rookie of the Year Award with the Order of Merit this year because you only get one chance to do it, so I’m happy.

“Gwladys likes the wind and is a big hitter, so I just had to play sensible on that back nine with no silly mistakes,” added Hull, who started her final round with a double bogey, three birdies and a bogey before a birdie on her return. “I started badly but bounced back, so I was pretty happy with myself.”

On her season and the future, Hull added: “I’ve had Top 10s in nearly every tournament I played, a couple of Top 10s in the majors and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour too and got my first win, so, I’ve learnt a lot from this year and I’m looking forward to next year.

“The aim now is to perform well every week, and go better at the majors, that would be special. The aim is just to hit one shot at a time and make more birdies next year.”

Nocera, who hit rounds of 69, 69, 71, 71, (280) conceded that for her to make top four and Hull to drop to below 30th would have been too much to ask anyway.

“I knew Charley would play well and I didn’t count on her not to finish inside the Top 10,” said Nocera, who opened with a birdie-bogey combination on her front nine and returned with a bogey and two birdies in her final round.

“It was my job to be better, or the best I could and I couldn’t do it but that’s golf I guess,” added Nocera, who won the Order of Merit in 2008.”

On Charley’s first Order of Merit win, the veteran said: “I’m sure it’s going to be awesome for her and she’ll win plenty more.”