The Tenerife Open de España Femenino has flown to South Africa for the second consecutive year, a desire generated twelve months ago by the gale of Lee-Anne Pace’s game that has been reproduced this time at Golf Costa Adeje thanks to the impressive mastery of Connie Chen, a young golfer of just 21 years old who opens with this victory her professional record.
Despite harboring dozens of alternatives and uncertainties during three days of extreme emotions, the Tenerife Open de España Femenino has remained faithful to its history, that accumulation of events that dictates that no Spaniard has embraced the title -although Carlota Ciganda and her admirable fight led her to finish in second place-, that no one is capable of reediting the triumph -the defending champion, South African Lee-Anne Pace, finished sixteenth- and that it is more common than ever for players with a palmar palmar to win the title, that no one is capable of reediting triumph -the defending champion, South African Lee-Anne Pace, finished sixteenth- and that it is more than usual that players with an unfulfilled track record take advantage of the Open de España Femenino to build, from their victory, extremely interesting trajectories.
Connie Chen has fulfilled all those premises, young, with an almost unknown sporting past -only one Top 10 in 52 participations in Ladies European Tour tournaments before arriving in Tenerife- and a promising future from now on.
Fifth, second, first in the previous rounds, the petite Connie Chen was always part of this multitudinous group of aspirants to the triumph in this exciting Tenerife Open de España Femenino, carving her ascending trajectory based on a short but admirably straight shot, very straight, with accurate approach shots and a solidity and patience with the putt that perhaps comes from the oriental ancestry of her progenitors.
Be that as it may, Connie Chen offered serene and crushing efficiency to the dozens and dozens of furious attacks of her multiple rivals, a motley group in experience united by the common denominator of the search for an elusive triumph because Connie Chen, at the drop of a hat, blow by blow – “that short hit, but what a straight” – built an unreachable final card from the moment in which, at the 13th hole, a spectacular eagle opened a gap already irremediable and definitive.
Not even Carlota Ciganda, that example of pundonor that is a marvel for the eyes and the heart of those who contemplate it, that continuous battle in search of the beyond, of the even more accurate hit, of overcoming the most adverse circumstances, found the formula to defeat the steamroller attitude of Connie Chen, mind of ice against the successive attacks of many others well seasoned in winning battles.
The Navarrese, a pure spectacle from start to finish, maneuvered from the first hole in search of a birdie, an obligatory conquest to achieve victory. She got it early, on hole 3 and 5, and could have even reproduced even more victorious situations if there were no millimetric deviations in her putting shots that left the ball literally hanging from the hole.
In the middle of the course Carlota Ciganda’s existence was full of dark clouds, two consecutive bogeys after hitting the ball wrong on the 8th hole that dismounted her from the top positions, that territory so much her own that she regained with courage, that indomitable attitude that makes her stand up in the most adverse situations, that birdie on the 11th hole reproduced shortly after on the 13th and another one on the 17th!A race against the clock in the hunt and capture Connie Chen, four strokes ahead reduced to three, two … with Carlota Ciganda already in the clubhouse with the satisfaction of a job well done. “I wanted to win, that was my goal, but if you do not win the best is to be second”. The word of Carlota Ciganda.
FINAL RANKING
1.- Connie Chen (South Africa) 276 (68+70+69+69)
2.- Carlota Ciganda (SPAIN) 278 (68+71+70+69)
3.- Beth Allen (United States) 279 (71+73+68+67)
4.- Charlie Hull (England) 280 (68+71+71+70)
5.- Nontaya Srisawang (Thailand) 281 (72+74+69+66)
+.- Nikki Campbell (South Africa) 281 (70+73+70+68)
Hannah Burke (England) 281 (71+74+68+68+68)
+.- Pamela Prestwell (Scotland) 281 (72+73+68+68+68)
+.- Celine Herbin (France) 281 (73+70+65+73)
12.- Azahara Muñoz (SPAIN) 285 (70+75+70+70+70)
22.- Patricia Sanz (SPAIN) 288 (74+71+72+71)
25.- Nuria Iturrios (SPAIN) (am) 289 (73+75+73+68)
AROUND THE GREEN
Azahara Muñoz brushes the Top 10 and leads the rest of Spaniards
Azahara Muñoz returned to sign for the third time in the tournament 70 strokes, a remarkable result that contributed to raise her to twelfth place, near the Top 10 to which she is accustomed in the tournaments she plays throughout the season. The demanding player from Malaga was not satisfied because repeated problems with the putt prevented her from scoring a good number of birdies during the four days of competition, which would have allowed her to aspire to everything.
Special mention also goes to Patricia Sanz from Madrid, who finished in 22nd place in a clear demonstration of serenity and efficiency, demonstrating her good progress in professional golf.
In addition, the amateur Nuria Iturrios brought a lot of freshness, a real gale of a game that ended with a more than creditable card of 68 strokes to finish in 25th place.
Barcelona’s Mireia Prat (41st place) and the Canary Islands’ María Beautell (41st place) and Emma Cabrera-Bello (48th place) were the next Spanish representatives in the ranking, which also includes Carmen Alonso (53rd place), Sara Beautell (56th place), amateur Luna Sobrón (59th place) and Araceli Felgueroso (59th place).
A day of tremendous alternatives on the scoreboard
Although Connie Chen felt no pressure to win and allowed herself the luxury of finishing with a bogey on the last hole, the final day of Tenerife Open de España Femenino was a continuous merry-go-round at the top of the leaderboard, with numerous alternatives in the first half of the course, alternations in which many players participated. In the end, Connie Chen’s timely eagle on the 13th hole buried in practice the aspirations of all of them despite the fact that the top eight finished under par in a clear demonstration of the quality of their game.
In addition to Connie Chen and Carlota Ciganda, the show also came from the American Beth Allen, the English Charlie Hull, the Thai Nontaya Srisawang, the South African Nikki Campbell, the English Hannah Burke, the Scottish Pamela Prestwell, the French Celine Herbin, all of them serious contenders for the final victory.
The ins and outs of the list of winners
Australian, French and English women have won the Spanish Women’s Open. The title has flown to their countries on four occasions. Only two players have managed to win twice, the French player Marie Laure de Lorenzi (1987 and 1988) and the English player Laura Davies, who has done it 24 years apart! She won in 1986 and won again in 2010.
The list of winners also reflects the triumphs of players who have been and are important in the history of the Ladies European Tour, from Denmark’s Iben Tinning (2005) to Australia’s Nikki Garrett (2007) or England’s Melissa Reid (2010). All of them are part of the history of an increasingly prestigious tournament.
Connie Chen, with her sights set on the Japanese Circuit
With a very short list of achievements up to this very moment in which the victory in the Tenerife Open de España Femenino can open many doors for her on the Ladies European Tour, Connie Chen has her sights set on accessing the Japanese Tour. Previously, within the Ladies European Tour, the young South African has only achieved a Top 10, specifically a seventh place in the Sberbank Golf Masters this season, a year in which she has missed the cut in many tournaments. Such is golf, such a poor sporting career has not prevented her from being the best in Tenerife, where she has surpassed players with a great professional background.
Nontaya Srisawang and the power of the East
The Tenerife Open de España Femenino 2014 will be remembered as the most Asian in the history of the tournament. The role of the South African with Chinese father Connie Chen and the Thai Nontaya Srisawang, other great sensations of the last day, has not gone unnoticed by anyone.
Srisawang proved to be a birdie machine, always with a smile on her face. Close friend of Titiya Plucksataporn, the first Thai who played the Ladies European Tour and also protagonist in this edition, Srisawang is looking for her first victory after adding some Top 10 in the circuit. At Golf Costa Adeje she has been close to victory… and to be the first Asian player to win the tournament.
End of party at Golf Costa Adeje
The awards ceremony put the finishing touch to a fantastic edition of the Tenerife Open de España Femenino. The ceremony was presided over by Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the RFEG; Miguel Becerra, Councilor of Tourism of the Cabildo of Tenerife; Juan Armas, Director of Institutional Relations of Promotur Turismo de Canarias; Salvador García, President of the Canary Islands Golf Federation; and Paul de Sterck, Director of Golf Costa Adeje.
Gonzaga Escauriaza, master of ceremonies, thanked all those who have made this week one of the best of the season at all levels: sponsors, referees, volunteers, organization, greenkeepers, press and, of course, Golf Costa Adeje staff, who have made the players feel at home from the very first moment. Thank you all for your involvement!
And now, the DISA Campeonato de España de Profesionales Femenino (Spanish Professional Women’s Championship)
The conclusion of this magnificent edition of the Tenerife Open de España Femenino does not mean the end of the women’s golf party on the islands. On the contrary, this week the neighboring Golf del Sur is hosting another top class event, the DISA Campeonato de España de Profesionales Femenino, another great opportunity to enjoy the spectacle of Spanish golfers, in this case in a domestic version. The attractions are numerous, to the point that many of the Spanish players who have been present at the Tenerife Open de España Femenino extend their stay on the island to participate in a tournament full of excitement and uncertainty. The appointment, in Golf del Sur between September 24 and 26.
Free admission for all those who wish to attend.
AT THE MICROPHONE
Connie Chen (winner, 276 strokes, 12 under par. Sunday: 69, 3 under par. Birdies on 4, 8 and 11; bogeys on 7 and 18; eagle on 13).
“I am tremendously happy, winning is a great satisfaction and allows me to learn many things. This victory gives me confidence to do well in the future. I hope I can prove it very soon. I played well, without getting nervous at any time. The putt worked for me… and here I am with the trophy!”
Carlota Ciganda (278 strokes, 10 under par. Sunday: 69, 3 under par. Birdies on 3, 5, 11, 13 and 17; bogeys on 9 and 10).
“I wanted to win, that was my real goal, but it could not be. It is very possible that in a few weeks I will value this second place, which is very important, but right now I have resentment because I would have loved to win the Open de España. Of course, if you don’t win, the best thing is to be second.
The key was the 8-iron on the 8th hole. I was playing very well up to that point and I thought I was going to make a pin, but it was a very bad shot. I felt bad and then came the bogeys on 9 and 10, all for the same reason, for thinking about what I shouldn’t have. You learn from everything. In fact, I reacted well and got 3 more birdies, but Connie Chen was already far away”.
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