Hugging successively her mother and father, shedding a torrent of tears as the best expression of the feeling of joy that overwhelmed them all, Carlota Ciganda externalized in the best possible way the achievement of a dream.
The Navarre golfer had just written one of the most beautiful pages in the history of Spanish women’s golf, adding to her extensive book of victories the only notch she was missing in her impressive list of victories: the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España.
A woman of her word, Carlota Ciganda has successfully culminated the announcement made just a day before the start of this exciting competition: “Winning the Open de España would fulfill my best dreams”. And she did it in a big way, with a final round in which the praising adjectives were attached to her game, expressed with true devotion by her large legion of followers.
Leading early in the morning with three strokes ahead of Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, Carlota Ciganda embarked from the first moment on a challenge built step by step based on actions to remember. Those who had the good fortune to follow her during the first three days were subjugated by her courageous and risky game, which reached its highest heights in a memorable last round.
The Navarre golfer once again demonstrated her ability to overcome challenges, acquiring on her own merits the consideration of Spanish, European and world golf character, the qualification reserved only for the best and that in her case responds to her stubborn perseverance in accumulating victories in her admirable list of achievements.
His relationship with success began in 2000, when he won at that time, also with authority, the Spanish Junior Championship. From that moment, twenty-one years of accumulation of victories in all national categories before leading to the biggest prize, the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España.
Excited, tremendously excited after completing her feat, Carlota Ciganda deservedly vented: “I am very happy and satisfied. It has been an incredible week, I have enjoyed a lot and I only have words of thanks for everyone, but especially for my parents, my family and all the people from Navarre who follow me. I love you all very much”, she managed to say between new sobs during the emotional awards ceremony.
Behind had been the last effort, 18 holes of enormous tension in which the Swedish Maja Stark and the Thai Atthaya Thitikul offered maximum resistance counteracted, time after time, by uncontestable actions of the Spanish golfer, benefited by some mistakes of her main rivals that gave her wings.
It happened on hole 1, Thitikul’s three-putt finished off by Carlota Ciganda’s birdie on hole 2 before the Navarrese player threw her fist in the air for the first time in the round. She had just holed a 7-meter putt on hole 5 that meant eagle, two additional strokes of income that raised the Swedish-Thai penitence to 5 strokes of disadvantage.
Another birdie on the 8th, after a complicated downhill trajectory from the green, to add another birdie to his card, constituted the second opportunity in which the Navarrese fist jumped into the air to release the tons of energy accumulated at that moment.
There were still ten holes left, apparently a world but in reality an increasingly heavy burden for Maja Stark and Atthaya Thitikul, who could not find a way to minimize the disadvantage despite their insistent efforts.
With no material time for radical changes in the ranking, Carlota Ciganda’s round became a triumphal walk, serene and strategic actions cheered with a huge ovation from all the fans on the 18th hole in recognition of a historic performance, culminated with a wonderful birdie to put the bow on a perfect tournament.
Carlota Ciganda’s feat minimized equally glorious performances that on other occasions would have been considered newspaper headlines. It was the case of the impressive round of Nuria Iturrioz who, with 65 strokes, 7 under par, climbed to fifth place while snatching from Carlota Ciganda and the Swedish Lina Boqvist the course record of Los Naranjos established by both on the second day with a 66.
The story, however, rested on another protagonist, one who has finally won all possible national titles in our country. “I have achieved it and I can’t be happier at this moment”, said Carlota Ciganda after achieving an accomplishment only within reach of the best.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION
1.- Carlota Ciganda (ESP), 273 (70+66+70+67)
2.- Maja Stark (Sue), 277 (74+68+69+66)
3.- Atthaya Thitikul (Tai), 280 (72+70+67+71)
4.- Fátima Fernández Cano (ESP), 281 (69+68+75+69)
5.- Nuria Iturrioz (ESP), 283 (71+71+76+76+65)
11.- Laura Gómez (ESP), 287 (76+71+68+72)
+.- Ana Peláez (ESP), 287 (71+70+74+72)
+.- Carmen Alonso (ESP), 287 (74+71+71+71+71)
AROUND THE GREEN
An impressive curriculum forged over 21 years
The only Spanish golfer who has won the Spanish Championships in all categories, from junior to professional, Carlota Ciganda has completed with the title of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España that intense and idyllic relationship with golf in our country, forging a record that distinguishes her as the best golfer in the history of our country.
His record of triumphs began with the 2000 Spanish Championship for Benjamins, held in the Majorcan course of Santa Ponsa, and continued with the Spanish Championships for Juniors (2001 and 2002), Children (2003 and 2004), Cadets (2003, 2004 and 2006), U18 (2006, 2007 and 2008), Junior (2006, 2007 and 2008), Junior (2006, 2007 and 2008), Absolute (2006, 2007 and 2008) and Professional (2012), an overwhelming trajectory dotted, of course, with international amateur triumphs of the highest prestige that have made Carlota Ciganda an icon in Spanish women’s golf.
Nine victories and three Solheim Cups in the professional field
Carlota Ciganda’s winning trajectory did not stop when she entered the professional ranks, where she has accumulated five victories in Europe, another four on the LPGA Tour and three Solheim Cups behind her. Previously, Carlota Ciganda triumphed in a Ladies European Tour tournament played in our country, specifically the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open held in Sitges in 2019.
Great Spanish performance as a whole
Apart from the triumph of Carlota Ciganda, other Spanish golfers shone with their own light throughout the four days of competition. Special mention for Fátima Fernández Cano, who gave many good examples of the quality of her game to reach a well-deserved fourth position. One place behind was Nuria Iturrioz, who was the beneficiary of a record-breaking last round, 65 strokes. Also noteworthy is the trio of Carmen Alonso, Ana Pelaez and Laura Gomez, tied for eleventh place. All of them, and the rest of the Spanish participants, received words of support from Carlota Ciganda: “Keep fighting to put Spanish women’s golf where it deserves to be”.
Impressive course record by Nuria Iturrioz
Nuria Iturrioz was another of the great protagonists of the last day and of the tournament, where she finished in fifth position. The Mallorcan golfer surprised everyone present with an impeccable performance reflected in a card of 7 under par, a new course record. An eagle on hole 2 gave way to five birdies on 7, 10, 11, 12
, 13 stained by an anecdotal bogey on 15 wiped, to finish the job, with another birdie on 18. The card, to be framed, will occupy a preferential place on the walls of the Los Naranjos course.
Now, everyone is heading to Finca Cortesin
After the tournament, the women’s golfing attention moves immediately to the nearby Finca Cortesin course, where this Monday, at 12:00 pm, the ceremony of the baton of the Solheim Cup 2023 and the presentation of the captain of the European team of that edition will be held. The event will be attended by authorities of the Ministry of Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía, Turismo Costa del Sol, Acosol, Marbella Town Hall, Benahavís Town Hall, Casares Town Hall, the LPGA, the LET, the Royal Spanish Golf Federation and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, among other personalities.
Emotional prize-giving ceremony as the culmination of a perfect tournament
The prize-giving ceremony, attended by many fans, was much more emotional than usual thanks to Carlota Ciganda winning the title. Words of thanks were addressed to her by Manuel Muñoz, Secretary General of Tourism of the Andalusian Regional Government; Francisco Salado, President of the Malaga Provincial Council and Costa del Sol Tourism and Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the RFEG, in a ceremony which was also attended by Nuria Rodríguez, territorial delegate in Malaga of the Andalusian Regional Government; Manuel Cardeña, executive CEO of Acosol; Margarita del Cid, vice president of the Diputación de Málaga; Alexandra Armas, CEO of the LET; Pablo Mansilla, president of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation; Julián Romaguera, general manager of Los Naranjos Golf Club; Iñigo Aramburu, general manager of Deporte & Business and promoter of the tournament; and Joao Pinto, tournament director.
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