Anne Van Dam, powerful, smiling, with a confidence that can withstand any kind of challenge, has extended her Spanish idyll by brilliantly winning the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino held at La Quinta Golf, her second consecutive great success after winning first place, just two months ago, at the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open.
The Dutch golfer, a golfing prodigy clearly evident in her powerful tee shots, precise approach shots and putts, most of them straight, was the main protagonist of a tournament where Azahara Muñoz from Malaga, combative like few others, an example of grit from start to finish, tried everything during four days to play that starring role.
Affected by a stumbling competition development, the pernicious effect of a severe and premature suspension of the first day due to rain, both Anne Van Dam and Azahara Muñoz established for a long time, in practice for almost three days, a delayed and distant confrontation, just until they both met, at the top of the ranking, with something really definite.
It really happened in the mid-morning of this fourth and final day, when time was finally scratched and the third round was concluded and both were summoned to the truly definitive duel. At that moment Anne Van Dam was already giving undeniable signs of her winning intentions, when three birdies in the seven holes she had left to play to complete the previous day’s round catapulted her to the lead with 12 under par and four ahead of Azahara Muñoz.
The income, solid but not decisive, faltered in fact at the beginning of the fourth round, when two consecutive birdies by Azahara Muñoz encouraged the spectators to give wings to their imagination. The disadvantage, minimized to two strokes, was however widened again by something as simple as Anne Van Dam demanding perfection to give chase.
The Dutchwoman, persistent and persistent, offered increasing security in her game, unscathed by the successive proposals of Azahara Muñoz, with whom she established from the beginning a one-on-one battle for the title given the wide difference accumulated with respect to the rest of the rivals.
There were many holes left, yes, and the differences were not insurmountable, but the minimal hesitation of Azahara Muñoz in the first part of the round opened a definitive gap of 6 strokes. The spectacular and vibrant reaction of the Malaga native to try to reedit her double consecutive triumph of the 2016 and 2017 editions was of no use, four wonderful birdies on holes 10, 12, 14 and 15 that caused widespread admiration, a last gasp of golfing genius on the part of the Malaga native before handing over the winning baton to Anne Van Dam.
And then came the 16th hole, where Azahara Muñoz sent the ball out of bounds, a definitive mistake – “I made a mistake in the choice of the club”, she lamented at the end- which does not tarnish an outstanding performance, spearhead of another no less remarkable set of Spanish players, with four representatives in the top ten: Azahara Muñoz, second; Natalia Escuriola, fourth; Luna Sobrón, sixth; and Marta Sanz, eighth.
FINAL RANKING
1.- Anne van Dam (NED) 271 (68+67+66+66+70)
2.- Azahara Muñoz (ESP) 274 (68+68+69+69+69)
3.- Catriona Matthew (SCO) 278 70+67+71+70)
4.- Olivia Cowan (GER) 279 (68+70+72+69)
+.- Natalia Escuriola (ESP) 279 (72+68+70+69)
6.- Luna Sobrón (ESP) 280 (72+70+66+72)
8.- Marta Sanz (ESP) 281 (73+67+74+67)
AROUND THE GREEN
A blow to the table for Pro Spain
The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino 2018 has yielded great results for the local Armada. Azahara Muñoz aside, it is worthy of praise the extraordinary weekend of three young players of the Pro Spain Program, Natalia Escuriola (-5), Luna Sobrón (-4) and Marta Sanz (-3), all of them in Top 10 position.
Luna and Natalia arrived at La Quinta from Pedreña (Cantabria), where they were proclaimed champion and runner-up of Spain, respectively. In Malaga their game has continued to flow, and how.
On the other hand, Marta Sanz, who had a victory in Symetra Tour, left for the memory two spectacular rounds of 67 strokes. In this last round she got to -6, showing that when she starts the bike she is almost unstoppable. The Balearic Nuria Iturrios (par) has not performed badly in these two days, with two cards under par.
In addition, four other Spanish golfers made the cut: Elia Folch (+4), María Hernández (+10), Piti Martínez (+11) and Silvia Bañón (+12).
Anne and Azahara are embraced by the authorities
The winner, Anne van Dam, as well as Azahara Muñoz, recognized as the best Spanish player of the tournament, were entertained at the awards ceremony by the local authorities, who did not want to miss the opportunity to congratulate the protagonists of the tournament.
The event was presided over by Monsalud Bautista, Territorial Delegate of Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Malaga Regional Government.
Junta de Andalucía; Arturo Bernal, General Director of Tourism of Costa del Sol; Manuel Cardeña, CEO of Acosol; José Luis Gómez, Managing Director of La Quinta Golf & Country Club; Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation; Pablo Mansilla, President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation; and Mark Lichtenhein, CEO of the Ladies European Tour.
A Golfer Named Anne van Dam
62 tournaments played in the Ladies European Tour and two victories, in addition to another pair of wins in the LET Access Series. This is the summary of Anne van Dam’s professional career at the age of 23. It is a coincidence that one of these successes was achieved on Spanish soil, in the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open this year, an event in which she left the staff speechless with an exhibition of birdies. Her other victory took place at the Xiamen International Open in 2016.
Between one success and another, the Dutchwoman has combined competition in Europe with the Symetra Tour, a circuit in which she has scored two Top 10 in this course. What is the secret of this Dutchwoman? This question can be answered with one piece of information: she is the player who reaches the most meters on average from the tee. In other words, she is a top-level hitter.
THIS IS WHAT THEY TOLD US
Azahara Muñoz (2nd with 274 strokes, -10. Birdies on holes 1, 2, 10, 12 and 14, bogeys on 5 and 9, and double bogey on 16).
“I had four birdies and I wanted to continue with that streak, but I made the wrong club and went right, and you can’t miss there. It’s a shame, but I have to be proud, I fought until the end, I was aggressive and tried to make another birdie. Sometimes you win and sometimes not. So I can only congratulate Anne.
Sometimes I don’t start until I’m on the ropes, and that’s how it was today, maybe a little late. I’ll keep the good putts I made on the last nine holes. Today was a marathon again, but I felt very good, to be honest. The adrenaline is pumping, and tomorrow I’m sure I’ll be tired, but I liked it. Besides, it’s the last effort, since we are almost in the pre-season”.
Natalia Escuriola (4th with 279 strokes, -5. Today 69, -2 Birdies on holes 5, 11, 15, 17 and 18; bogey on 4, 6 and 13)
“I have played very well all week, but the truth is that just today I have not played as well as I would have liked. The best thing is the result, which was much better than the game showed. It has been a very complicated tournament because of the weather: playing 27 holes one day, three on another… it is difficult. The balance of the year is very good, I give it a 9.”
Luna Sobrón (6th with 280 strokes, -4. Today 72, +1. Birdies on holes 1 and 15, and bogeys on 3, 6 and 13).
“I’m happy with the tournament I’ve done, I’ve played very well. I think I’m very close to making a big jump, and I’m very confident and looking forward to keep working. This jump is related to putting. Today I haven’t putted many, and I have had opportunities, but I see that they are coming in and that I am making rounds under par.
Between the Spanish Professional Championship last week, the two previous ones at the LET, with the third place at the Lacoste, and this result, it is to be very happy. I have gained a lot of strength to continue working next year. From January onwards, I’ll be back to the top again”.
Marta Sanz (8th with 280 strokes (-4). Today 67, -4. Birdies on holes 1, 5, 6, 9, 14 and 15, and bogeys on 2 and 15).
“We have to be happy, because in this last round I made up a lot of ground. I had a little thorn from the last holes, where I had birdie options. But well, I’m going to be close to the top 10, so I’m not going to complain.
It’s the end of a year in which I played well and won three times, but my goal was to get the LPGA card and I didn’t get it. But well, the end of the year shows that I can go higher.”
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