Ciganda holds firm for first tour win in eight years
Carlota Ciganda has birdied the final two holes to win the Meijer LPGA Classic, clinching her first LPGA Tour victory in more than eight years.
At the same time, sentimental favourite Lexi Thompson had two late bogeys in Michigan on Sunday to dash her bid to end her own win drought.
Karis Davidson maintained her overnight position, finishing four strokes behind in a tie for seventh and the best of the Australians with Minjee Lee and Gabriela Ruffels both tied for 14th.
Ciganda hit to a foot to set up her birdie on the par-4 17th, then made a four on the par-5 18th to avoid a playoff with partner Hye-Jin Choi.
"It feels amazing, obviously, after all these years," the 35-year-old Spanish player said.
"I knew I could do it, but obviously once the years keep going and you start getting older you start doubting yourself."
Part of a six-way tie to start the day at Blythefield County Club, Ciganda shot a 5-under 67 — her fourth straight round in the 60s — to finish at 16-under 272 on the tree-lined layout in the final event before the major KPMG Women's PGA Championship in Texas.
"I love coming here," Ciganda said. "It reminds me of Spain where I'm from in the northern part of the Spain. Very similar. Lots of trees, peaceful. I love the golf course. Five par 5s, you can hit it hard here."
She has three LPGA Tour victories and has won eight times on the Ladies European Tour, the last in December in the Spanish Women's Open.
Choi finished with a 68, also shooting in the 60s all four days. She rebounded from a bogey on 17 to birdie 18.
"I had a chance to win this tournament," Choi said. "But the bogey on 17 hole was, yeah, just the one I'm thinking about."
Fellow South Korean player Somi Lee was third at 14 under after a 65.
Thompson, who has not won on the tour since 2019, had a 70 to tie for fourth with Celine Boutier (67) and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (70).
The 2015 winner at Blythefield, won the last of her 11 LPGA Tour titles in early June 2019 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. She made her sixth start of the season at Belmont in a part-time tour schedule.
"It's my favorite event on the schedule. Fans are amazing and come out and support women's golf and that's what we want," the 30-year-old from Florida said.
"Not the finish I wanted coming down the stretch there but coming into the week I wasn't playing great golf and kind of latched onto something that got me through the week."
Ciganda's win matched Beatriz Recari for the most tour victories by a Spanish player.
The former Arizona State player is also the oldest LPGA Tour winner since Eun-Hee Ji at 36 in the 2022 T-Mobile Match Play.
"For me age is just a number," Ciganda said. "I don't feel as fresh as when I was 24, but I still feel I can compete and I can win out here.
"I love playing. I love Thursday to Sundays. I love competition."
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