a day ago
Carlota Ciganda saours sweet LPGA Classic win in Michigan
Spain's Carlota Ciganda shot a five-under-par 67 to finish 16-under and win the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Michigan.
Ciganda came into the event with two previous LPGA tour victories under her belt, having won the KEB Hana Bank Championship and Lorena Ochoa Invitational in 2016.
But it had been nearly a decade since the 35-year-old had managed to match those early-career highs.
"It feels amazing obviously after all these years," Ciganda said. "I knew I could do it, but obviously once the years keep going and you start getting older you start doubting yourself."
The Spaniard has traditionally done well at this event, with finishes of 17th, eighth and fifth the previous three years. She credited her host family and the terrain, which brought back memories of her native Spain.
"I love coming here," Ciganda added. "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-fives, you can hit it hard here. So I really like that.
"And just staying with Bubba and Gretchen the host family for almost ten years, doesn't even feel like a tournament. Just feels really comfortable. We had a great vibe going on this week, and it's been amazing to stay with them and play and obviously to win."
South Korea's Somi Lee finished her day ahead of the other top contenders, but she fired an impressive seven-under 65 with eight birdies to establish a baseline of 14-under as the number to beat.
Ciganda made it to 15-under with her birdie on 17, then calmly sank her putton 18 to earn a second straight birdie and two-shot lead on the field.
For closest pursuer Hye-Jin Choi, who had an eagle on the par-five fourth, that proved too much to overcome.
The South Korean, still looking for her first career win despite 23 top-10 finishes, had been at 15 -nder for much of her back nine, putting her in a strong position going into the 17th.
But she settled for a five-shot bogey on that hole, leaving her needing a little help on 18.
Instead, Ciganda netted another birdie on 18, putting Choi in the uncomfortable position of needing an eagle, which she couldn't land.
Choi sank birdie on 18 to finish four-under 68, leaving her alone in second at 15-under.
Lee finished in third, while three golfers tied for fourth at 13-under: France's Celine Boutier (67), Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen (70) and Lexi Thompson.
