Spanish amateur ace

Carlota leads pros in

Tenerife Ladies Open

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Spanish amateur Carlota Ciganda fired a second round of six-under-par 66 to lead by a shot at the halfway stage of the Tenerife Ladies Open at Golf Costa Adeje today.
The 18-year-old from Pamplona, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved, who did not defend the British women's open amateur championship at North Berwick last week because of examinations, finished the day on nine-under-par, one ahead of Finland’s Ursula Wikstrom, who had a four-under 68 and Russian Maria Verchenova, who had a three-under 69.

Ciganda is hoping to become the fifth amateur tournament winner in the 30-year history of the Ladies European Tour this week. The last amateur to win on the tour was another talented teenager: South Korean Amy Yang, who claimed the 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia at the age of 16.

“I hit it very long and today I hit very straight so it was very helpful for me,” said Ciganda, who is a two time member of both the PING Junior Solheim Cup and Junior Ryder Cup teams and plays off a handicap of +5.2.

“If you play a good drive you have an approach from 80 to 100 metres so it’s easier to make birdies.” Ciganda had one bogey, at the par-four ninth-hole on her front nine, and posted an outward total of 37.

However she ripped up the back nine with seven birdies – and five in a row from the 11th hole – for an inward total of 29. That number tied the LET’s record for the lowest nine holes in a tournament, previously set by 19 other players.

“Once I started I couldn’t stop. I played really well, very good shots,” said Ciganda. “My putts were incredible. I made seven birdies and two pars on the back nine: I’m very happy.” It was her lowest ever nine holes in tournament play. Ciganda has won her national championship 19 times in various categories but says that her most treasured victory was the 2004 Individual European Ladies’ Amateur Championship at her home course, Ulzama Golf Club.

She is one of Europe’s greatest talents and in January will head to Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona to play golf and study. She explained: “I chose it because of the weather. Where I live in Spain is really cold in the winter and I prefer to practise in the sun.”

Sweden’s Louise Stahle, who shares fourth with England’s Rebecca Hudson on six-under-par, is a former student at Arizona State University and she is searching for her first tour win after coming close on several occasions already this year.“I feel like I’m starting to play better and posting scores,” said Stahle. “I found that coming from the amateur scene took a while. I think I had expectations to play better sooner but it’s taken two years at least.

“A win would be nice but I’m trying not to push it too much. Everybody is always asking but you have to be patient.”

Last week’s Portugal Ladies Open champion Anne-Lise Caudal posted a 69 to share sixth place with Denmark’s Lisa Holm Sorensen, who had a 66. Felicity and Trish Johnson, both from England but not related, finished the day tied for eighth position on four-under-par with Gwladys Nocera, the European number one who has won twice on tour this year.