Azhara Muñoz retains her title

Azahara Muñoz retained her title at the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino, much to the delight of the local crowd.

Munoz was playing at her home club Real Club de Golf Guadalmina, and used her local knowledge to full advantage.

The 29-year-old comes from the nearby village of San Pedro Alcantara, posted rounds of 68-64-67 and 69 to finish two strokes clear of Carlota Ciganda and Lee-Anne Pace.

She ended her final round a thumping great 19-under-par!

She said afterwards: “I couldn’t be any happier, defending my title on my home course and where I grew up. It’s been an amazing week and all the fans were here supporting me, so I’m happy I did it for them. I’ve been playing so well all week and today I didn’t play my best, especially on the back nine, but shooting an eight-under always helps. Today on the back nine, I made some amazing up and downs, so that was definitely the key.”

Muñoz entered the final round tied for the lead with Ciganda and bogeyed the third hole, but quickly gained the outright lead when Ciganda double bogeyed the fourth.

She then made three straight birdies from the fifth to gain a four-stroke lead, before a second bogey at the 12^th. She made a birdie putt of 30-feet on the 14^th and then a final birdie on the par-5 17^th.

Lee-Anne Pace eagled the last for a 67, before Carlota Ciganda also eagled the hole for a 71 and a share of second.

England’s Georgia Hall slipped back into fourth place after two bogeys early in the round but she recovered with an eagle on the seventh and a birdie on the eighth to card a final round of 69.

Hall said: “I had quite a poor weekend really and didn’t play that well, but fourth’s fourth. I wanted to try and win this week really and I putted quite well but I was in between clubs here and there. My putting has been good this week apart from yesterday but my pitching has been my weakness, so I’ll work on that for the next event.”

Carly Booth was also out there competing, and came in 19^th.

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