Kirk started the final round just two shots behind leader Moruya Jutanagarn, and a birdie at the opening hole against the Thai player's bogey saw the Aussie star tied for the lead, before slipping up with a bogey at the 6th hole.

She bounced back with a birdie at the par 5 7th hole, only to make another bogey at the difficult par 4 10th hole to fall two shots behind Jutanagarn.

The 35-year-old has never been one to go down without a fight, and a superb tee shot at the long par-3 14th set up a birdie to get to eight under. Another birdie at the reachable par-5 15th, where Kirk's second shot went agonisingly close to hitting the pin, saw her grab a four-way share of the lead.

But a pushed iron shot to the par-3 16th hole left a fast, breaking 15-metre birdie putt that resulted in a three-putt bogey.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

Worse was to come, as Kirk's tee-shot on 17 took an unlucky bounce into a shocking lie in the rough resulting in another bogey, virtually dashing any hopes of victory.

The consolation of a birdie at the most difficult hole on the golf course, the 18th hole, resulted in a wry smile from Kirk, as she was left to ponder what could have been.

“Obviously nice to finish with a birdie … that kind of takes some of the sting out of bogeying 16 and 17,” Kirk said. “But yeah, I mean, I did my best. That's all I can ask for.

“I'll probably think a bit more about it tonight and next week, and be a little bit maybe bittersweet more.

“I feel like I did everything I could today. So yeah, I guess I can be happy with that.”

Nordqvist picked up her second major victory with a bogey in a play-off. PHOTO: Getty Images.

A final round 70 for an eight under par 54 hole total of 205 left Kirk tied for third, just one stroke shy of getting into a playoff with Swedish star Anna Nordqvist and American Brittany Altomare, with the Swede eventually emerging victorious making a bogey in pouring rain.

Victorian Su Oh shot a final round 72 to finish in a tie for 14th place, while Minjee Lee and Sarah Jane Smith both carded closing 75s to finish 32nd and 48th respectively.