Dec 02,2024
Carlota Ciganda fired a final round of 71 (-1) to secure a one-stroke victory at the season-ending Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España presented by Oysho on the Ladies European Tour (LET).
The Spanish star overcame a nervous start on the final day to card rounds of 67-66-66-71 at Real Club Guadalhorce Golf in Malaga to win her eighth title on the LET.
It was a second victory in this tournament for the Solheim Cup star, who first the trophy back in 2021, and also a fourth LET title in Spain.
Ireland's Lauren Walsh slipped to a share of 16th after a one-over 73 that was her worst round of the week, but finished 18th on the order of merit in her debut LET season and will compete this week for an LPGA card in Alabama.
Ciganda held a four-shot lead overnight but it was a rocky start to final day for the Spanish star as she made two bogeys in her opening three holes at Real Club Guadalhorce Golf.
After the first four holes, her overnight lead evaporated with back-to-back birdies from Belgium’s Manon De Roey as the duo battled it out.
The Spaniard made her first birdies of the day on the fifth and added another on the seventh to have a one-shot lead over the Belgian, who also birdied the seventh hole.
On the back nine, Ciganda made a clutch approach shot and putt after finding the water on 10 to walk away with a par but De Roey drew level on -17 with a three-foot birdie on the 12th hole.
However, on 14 the Spanish star went back in front with a short birdie putt of her own and extended her advantage to two shots with a birdie on 17 and although she made a bogey at the last, she won with a total of 18-under-par.
Belgium's De Roey bogey-free round of 68 (-4) was enough for outright second place while India’s Pranavi Urs recorded her best-ever finish on the LET with a solo third place after a final round of 69 (-3).
"I'm very happy to win here in Spain in front of so many people and my family, it's always great to play here. I love Spain and it’s always very special," said Ciganda.
"It wasn’t easy, sometimes when you have a four-shot lead it’s not easy. I haven’t been up there in a while, so I had some adrenaline going on and started with a couple of bogeys and Manon played really good on the front nine, so we were pretty tight those first few holes.
"I fought hard and I love when we are right there, I love to hit good shots, so I made a really good birdie on 14 and the putt on 17 was great too. I’m really happy to win here in Spain."
Germany’s Helen Briem ended the week in fourth place on 13-under-par, Spain’s Andrea Revuelta finished as top amateur in T5 on 12-under-par alongside Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt.
France’s Agathe Sauzon, England’s Annabel Dimmock and Slovenia’s Pia Babnik were one shot further back on 11-under-par in T7 with England’s Hannah Screen rounding out the top 10 on 10-under.
In the LET Order of Merit, the top three in the rankings finished as Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini with 2,718.44 points, Belgium’s Manon De Roey with 2,216.21 points and England’s Charley Hull with 1,742 points.
Ciganda jumped from 81st up to 28th in the rankings with France’s Celine Herbin securing the crucial 70th spot in the Order of Merit to keep her full LET card for 2025.
Lauren Walsh finished 18th with 969.05 points while Leona Maguire, who plays on the PGA Tour, was 48th on 615.21.
