Second in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2011 and 2014, fifth in 2012, seventh in 2013… and spectacular triumph -by Azahara Muñoz- in 2016. Such has been the intense relationship of Spanish golfers with the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, which this time brings together twenty representatives of our country in pursuit of the title at stake in this important tournament of the European Professional Tour, which has the main sponsorship of Turismo de Andalucía, Turismo Costa del Sol and Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental.
The large group of Spaniards present at the magnificent Malaga course – with special mention for the aforementioned Azahara Muñoz and for Noemí Jiménez and Laura Cabanillas, also trained in Guadalmina, prestigious local references within the competition – is requesting the maximum prominence in a tournament that looks to be exciting given the high quality of its participants, with the Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, world golf star, in the front line.
Headed by Azahara Muñoz and Carlota Ciganda, regular players on the American Tour, the list of Spaniards amounts to twenty golfers, some of whom have achieved good results in various Professional Tours.
This is the case of the Balearic Nuria Iturrios, brilliant winner in the Lalla Meryem Cup 2016 held in Morocco, of the Cadiz Maria Parra -with two wins in the LET Access Series 2016 before getting the American Circuit card- or the Balearic Luna Sobrón, who this year has won the Castellum Ladies Open integrated in the LETAS.
Apart from them, the list of Spanish players includes a large number of golfers taking their first steps in the professional field, such as Natalia Escuriola, Noemí Jiménez, Marta Silva, Camilla Hedberg, Elia Folch, Silvia Bañón, Piti Martínez, Fátima Fernández and María Palacios.
Next to them are others whose careers have already taken off, such as Mireia Prat and the sisters Patricia and Marta Sanz, as well as experienced golfers such as María Beautell, Carmen Alonso and Laura Cabanillas, always a fighter in any tournament, as is the case of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España.
Great Spanish results that build confidence
It should be remembered that, apart from Azahara Muñoz’s triumph in 2016, five Spaniards came close to winning the Spanish Open by finishing second. It was the case of Raquel Carriedo in 2002; Ana Belén Sánchez in 2003; Tania Elósegui and Emma Cabrera tied for second place in 2009; again, Tania Elósegui in 2011 and Carlota Ciganda in the 2014 edition.
Professional debut of María Parra at the Open de España 2016
A year ago María Parra made her debut as a professional player at the Open de España with a very outstanding amateur curriculum -number 4 of the World Amateur Ranking-, so now she returns to her professional origins with the baggage of having obtained the American Tour card at the first time.
Free admission
Admission to attend the four days of competition -from September 21 to 24- of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino will be free of charge.
Essential support for a tournament of great relevance
The support of Turismo de Andalucía, Turismo Costa del Sol and Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental is part of a sports and tourism promotion effort, aware of the attraction of golf among national and foreign tourists, who find in this sport another incentive when choosing this Spanish region as a destination.
This important competition also has the support of Reale Seguros, Royal Spanish Golf Federation, Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, RCG Guadalmina, Consejo Superior de Deportes and Ladies European Tour. The organization is in charge of the company Deporte & Business.
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