Andalusian Costa del Sol Open of Spain: Carlota Ciganda, champion of the Open of Spain

Carlota Ciganda, who in all the lower categories had already been crowned national champion, can finally boast of having achieved it in absolute category. Navarra has won the Andaluca Costa del Sol Open in Spain after a final round in the firm 67 hits and played a formidable game.

The end of the year Carlota has been outstanding, with the victory together with the European team in the Solheim Cup of Ohio and this victory in Los Naranjos Golf Club, where she has four strokes ahead of the second classified, Maya Tight and in seven to the third, Atthaya Thitikul.

The thai, however, leaves the marbell field with the trophy of winner of the Race to Costa del Sol,, in addition to being the youngest in history who takes it, at 18 years old. She seems predestined to win big things in golf despite falling in the final stretch of the fight for the Spanish Open.

In Ciganda’s case, it’s about her fifth victory on the Ladies European Tour and it becomes the second Spanish to be awarded the National Open, after the successes of Azahara Muoz in 2016 and 2017. Precisely, Carlota It has equaled the latter in the number of tournaments won in the highest continental category.

“I wanted to win this Open so s. I am very happy to have played a great golf and to have done two days without bogeys.. Today I have not thought much about my rivals, the key has been to focus only on my shots “, declared the Spanish champion after finishing. The Navarrese added that it will be a pleasure to return in 2022: “Next year I will be there to defend the title. I love playing in Spain and I think I will be here.”.

Spain can say that in 2021, both the men’s and women’s Open have stayed at home, after that victory of Rafa Cabrera Bello at Madrid Country Club.

Ciganda, who starts with three strokes of advantage at the beginning of the day, gave few options, especially after the eagle of hole 5. The Spanish, who preceded Jon Rahm by the university of Arizona State And, like the Basque is a neighbor of Scottsdale, he cemented his triumph in the first nine, and in the second part of the tour he managed his income very well.

“I would have liked my end of the year to be something better, but it was good because I played consistently. The two years of the covid were not easy because I like having my family close and it could not be. They will help me if next season they can to travel. I am looking forward to next year and I think it will go well for me “, apuntaba Ciganda.

The woman from Pamplona put pressure on Thitikul with a birdie on hole 2, at the same time that the Thai woman gave way. This one recovered with a pair of birdies (to the 3 and to the 4), but Carlota gave a blow of authority shortly after. The hole 5, that the day before the champion choked, witnessed a different story. Impeccable second shot with wood to overcome a wide unevenness and enter the green. He finished off with a superb putt.

On the 8th hole, the Navarrese again excelled with the putt. In the second nine Thitikul, the youngest winner in the history of a tournament on the Tour – she did it when she was 14 years old – left several birdie putts and her chances of a comeback were fading, while Stark passed her. At the start of 15 he went into the water and committed a double bogey, while Ciganda it gave a blow although without the prize of the birdie. Carlota said goodbye in a big way, with a birdie.

The winner of the Open, in any case, dared with future challenges: “I want to continue winning tournaments and be at the top of the greats. I would like to win a ‘major’ before I retire.. I know it’s difficult, but at least fighting, “he pointed out.

Another Spanish, Nuria Iturrioz he broke the record of the field after signing 65 strokes, while Ftima Fernndez Cano finished as second best of ours, fourth classified. We will see the Galician woman next year on the American circuit.