September 24, 2017 – Local player Azahara Muñoz delighted the galleries as she retained her title at the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino at her home club Real Club de Golf Guadalmina in Spain on Sunday.

The 29-year-old from the nearby village of San Pedro Alcantara, who had been winning tournaments at the club since the age of nine, carded rounds of 68-64-67 and 69 to finish two strokes clear of Carlota Ciganda and Lee-Anne Pace and win on a total of 19-under-par, with former Ryder Cup player Miguel Angel Jimenez watching on.

Azahara said afterwards: “I couldn’t be any happier, defending my title on my home course and where I grew up. It’s been an amazing week and all the fans were here supporting me, so I’m happy I did it for them. I’ve been playing so well all week and today I didn’t play my best, especially on the back nine, but shooting an eight-under always helps. Today on the back nine, I made some amazing up and downs, so that was definitely the key.”

Muñoz began the final round tied for the lead with Ciganda and bogeyed the third hole, but quickly gained the outright lead when Ciganda double bogeyed the fourth. The home favourite then made three straight birdies from the fifth to gain a four-stroke lead, before carding a second bogey at the 12^th.  She recovered a stroke at the long 14^th, making a birdie putt of 30-feet and then made a final birdie on the par-5 17^th.

The big move of the day came from the 2013 champion Pace, who eagled the last for a 67, before Ciganda also eagled the hole for a 71 and a share of second.

Georgia Hall slipped back into fourth place after two bogeys early in the round but she recovered with an eagle on the seventh and a birdie on the eighth. Another pair of bogeys on the 12^th and 14^th were followed by four birdies in her last five holes for a round of 69.

Hall said: “I had quite a poor weekend really and didn’t play that well, but fourth’s fourth. I wanted to try and win this week really and I putted quite well but I was in between clubs here and there. My putting has been good this week apart from yesterday but my pitching has been my weakness, so I’ll work on that for the next event.”

The conditions were fantastic all week with blue skies, sunshine and a slight breath of wind, but nothing to trouble the players.

At the begin of the week, Muñoz had promised to jump into the club’s pool if she won and she duly delivered, bombing into the pool after the prize giving ceremony.

Another Spanish player, Natalia Escuriola Martinez, ended in fifth position, followed by Meghan MacLaren in sixth. Suzann Pettersen, who has just overcome a back injury, tied for seventh position with Justine Dreher, Nicole Garcia, Camilla Lennarth and rising star Frida Kinhult.

RESULTS

Pictures: ©Felipe Pérez and ©Tristan Jones

September 23, 2017 – Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz thrilled the Spanish galleries as they fired matching third rounds of 67 to share the lead heading into the final round of the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino at Real Club de Golf Guadalmina.

The former Solheim Cup partners started the day one stroke behind rising English star Georgia Hall, who was two strokes clear when she was unsettled by a double-bogey on the par-3 fifth hole, but they ended the day at 16-under-par and three strokes clear of Hall (71).

Although Hall was one clear after 10 holes, the Spanish duo rallied with five-under-par back nine totals, including three birdies to finish from Ciganda and an eagle on the last from Muñoz, the defending champion.

Carlota Ciganda said afterwards: “I started with a bogey on the first hole but I told myself to stay patient today. I know I can make birdies here, so just relax and try to hit fairways and greens. I had a birdie on nine and then I saw the tee was up on 12, so I made two good birdies on 11 and 12 and had three birdies to finish, so I’m very happy and excited for tomorrow. It’s great because lots of people were watching and I really enjoy playing here in Spain with Aza and lots of friends, family and kids. I think it’s really good for golf.”

Both Ciganda and Muñoz benefited from the support of the large and vociferous galleries but Muñoz also has the added advantage of playing at her home club.

She said after her round: “It was really fun going back and forth making birdies with Carlota. Finishing with an eagle at the end definitely puts a smile on my face and dinner is going to taste much tastier.”

Hall, who carded a 71, looked disappointed after letting several birdie putts slip past the hole, but she will remain in contention for her first win on Tour.

South African Lee-Anne Pace, the 2013 tournament champion, is a stroke further behind in fourth position, followed by Swedes Camilla Lennarth and Frida Kinhult and Natalia Escuriola Martinez in joint fifth.

Lennarth, who has just returned from injury, had a 66, which was the best round of the day, while Kinhult, who will turn 18 is two days’ time, is the only amateur in the field.

The 17-year-old from Skaftö, which is a small island on the west coast of Sweden just north of Gothenburg, has played in three LET Access Series tournaments this year and was a member of the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team last month. The younger sister of professional golfer Markus Kinhult, a member of the men’s European Tour, she received an invitation to play in the tournament after winning the Spanish Amateur Ladies International Championship in March.

Meghan MacLaren, who won the Azores Ladies Open on the LET Access Series this year, sits in eighth position, while Olivia Cowan, Diana Luna and Ursula Wikstrom are tied for ninth.

The final round gets under way on Sunday at 8.10am.

Pictures: ©Felipe Perez and ©Tristan Jones