A stunning smile conveyed more than any words could have done as Sophie Gustafson captured the Donegal Irish Women's Open yesterday on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off here on the Glashedy Links.

Gale-force winds gusting to 60 miles per hour caused the event to be reduced to 54 holes. Ireland's Aideen Rogers held on to her overnight position of fourth.

The decision to scrap yesterday's round was made at lunchtime after play had been suspended because the ball was moving on exposed greens. On checking with the local meteorological office, tournament organisers were informed that conditions would only get worse.

So, they were left with the positions after 54 holes, when Gustafson was tied for the lead on two-under-par with Denmark's Iben Tinning after they had both shot brilliant third rounds of 68. And given the protected character of the 18th green, it was decided a play-off would be possible - an unprecedented happening on the women's tour in these circumstances.

In the event, Gustafson played the hole beautifully, driving to within 30 yards of the green. Tinning pulled her drive into rough high on the left and was right of the green in two. She then played a poor pitch-and-run shot to be six feet off the back of the green in three.

With Gustafson four feet from the hole in three, Tinning chipped a few inches outside her and missed the putt. The only possible problem for the Swede at that stage was that after moving her marker two putter-heads to the right to accommodate her opponent's putt, she almost neglected to replace the marker.

As she was about to putt from a wrong place, voices from the large crowd surrounding the green shouted "mark it, mark it". Realising her error, she moved the marker back to its original position and holed out for a par after Tinning had taken a double-bogey six.

Because of a severe speech impediment, Gustafson had difficulty in articulating her delight at this, he second tour victory, having previously won the 1996 Swiss Open. But her smile spoke volumes. And she talked of her friendship with Tinning and the fact that they had dined together the previous night.

"The friendliness of the people here has made this a wonderful event for me," she said. Then, in a reference to her choice as a wildcard on the forthcoming Solheim Cup team, the 24-year-old added: "This could not have come at a better time."

It seems ironic that the final round of a women's event should have been scuppered by the remnants of a tropical storm named Danielle. But the signs were ominous when officials found it necessary to suspend play at 12.15 p.m. because balls were moving on the exposed ninth and 13th greens.

The decision to abandon play was taken 45 minutes later. Interestingly, it was at the same time of day that a similar decision was made on the USPGA Tour in the Mercedes Championship at La Costa in January last year.

That was when heavy rain caused the event to be reduced to 54 holes with Tiger Woods and Tom Lehman level at the top of the leaderboard. In the event, the green at the short seventh was rendered playable and it will be recalled that Woods almost had a hole-in-one to win the play-off with a birdie two.

Gustafson was unsure whether she would have preferred the tournament to be completed over 72 holes. And Rogers was of similar mind, despite the appeal of a cheque for £5,400 (£4,664 Sterling). "It could have turned out to be a good day, then again it could have been disastrous," she said, having secured fourth place with a fine round of 71 on Saturday.

Rogers, who hadn't started her final round, added: "My feelings tell me I'd prefer to be out there playing, but the money is going to pay a few bills. And this should get me into the Air France Open next month and the final event in Morocco the following week."

Tracy Eakin, who was on the 13th and 11-over-par for the day when play was suspended, finished in a share of 41st place for £543. "I've no complaints - it's backwards I was going," she said. As it happened, Barbara Hackett was the last of the eight players to finish the fourth round. And she, too, was pleased that an 82 didn't count. She was tied 53rd for £344 while the other Irish qualifier, Lynn McCool was a shot better off for a cheque of £404.