LEE ANNE PACE WINS SPANISH WOMEN'S OPEN

Lee-Anne Pace closed out the Open de España to claim her second Ladies European Tour victory this season and returned to the top of the ISPS HANDA Order of Merit.
The 32-year-old South African, who won in Turkey two months previously, collected her seventh win on Tour, with a final round of 71 at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
The 2010 LET money list winner started the final round tied for the lead with Frenchwoman Celine Herbin but quickly took control of the championship with four birdies in her first seven holes.
Although she had built a four stroke lead, the drama increased after she took a double bogey on the 17^th, reducing her lead to one with a hole to play.
A regulation par four on the final hole was enough for Pace to earn a one shot victory over Mikaela Parmlid of Sweden and take the first prize of 52,500 euro, with a 72-hole total of 275, 13-under-par. Joanna Klatten of France shot a level par 72 to end on nine-under-par in solo third.
Pace birdied the first and then first three straight birdies from the fifth. She three-putted the short ninth and her lead was cut to two after a second bogey on 12. However, while Herbin’s challenge stalled with a double bogey on 13, Parmlid was making up ground.
The Swede dropped a shot on 16, before Pace’s second shot on the short 17^th flew out of the bunker and over to the other side of the narrow green. After her chip shot ended 15 feet short of the hole, she two-putted for a five.
“On 17 I went straight at the pin and probably should have gone a little bit right but I had a small draw and a mental error cost me two shots but I’m really happy I won,” Pace said.
“The bunker was actually quite hard and had a bit of a bounce. I thought it was going to be softer. It flew over. Then I had a fluffy lie. I think it hit somebody over the green so thank you to the guy who stopped my ball!
“I thought, ‘re-group, recover, you’ve been hitting it well all week so smash it down the middle.”
The steely South African’s ball duly split the 18^th fairway and she two-putted for a regulation par.  
As is the usual custom on the LET, fellow professional golfers, including Anne-Lise Caudal, Sophie Sandolo and Ashleigh Simon, ran onto the green and poured the champion in water, which was appropriate on this occasion, given the hot and sticky climate, in 34C.
It was a doubly successful day for South Africa, since Ashleigh Simon chipped in for eagle on the par-5 fourth hole in a 69, to share of fifth place with Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera on seven-under-par.
Although Carlota Ciganda and Marta Silva tied for seventh, with Linda Wessberg, Minea Blomqvist and Titiya Plucksataporn, Spain’s hopes for its first home champion will have to wait another year.
 
Final Round Interviews
Lee-Anne Pace (1^st) 67 69 68 71=275
How do you assess your round?
I started really well obviously on the front nine and then, nine, I just lost a bit of concentration, three putted that, but I was still well ahead and quite calm. Ten, a wayward drive but I made a good putt, a good recovery and nearly birdied number 11. Another wayward shot on 12 but then I came in quite nicely, made some good shots. On 17 I went straight at the pin and probably should have gone a little bit right but I had a small draw and a mental error cost me two shots but I’m really happy I won.
When it flew out of the bunker on 17, did you think your chance had gone?
No, no. Definitely not. The bunker was actually quite hard and had a bit of a bounce. I thought it was going to be softer. It flew over. Then I had a fluffy lie. I think it hit somebody over the green so thank you to the guy who stopped my ball. I didn’t think that. I was still one ahead playing the last so I was quite comfortable playing the last hole.
What was going through your mind when you were standing on the tee box on 18?
I thought, re-group, recover, you’ve been hitting it well all week so smash it down the middle and there you go.
That was probably the type of putt you want to win a title, wasn’t it?
That was perfect. A little bit downhill so I hit it too hard and not enough break, so yeah, loved it.
How are you going to sustain it over the next couple of weeks with some big tournaments coming up?
Winning this week gives me a lot of confidence for next week and hopefully the British Open at St Andrews. I’ve just been working really hard with my coaches on my swing, trying to hit the ball both ways, hitting a lot of greens.
You mentioned the British Open. Are you looking forward to taking on the Old Course?
Yeah. I have never been there before so really looking forward to that; very excited and I think my caddie has already got a game plan so really looking forward to that.
Mikaela Parmlid (2^nd) 69 71 66 70=276
You had a great week but I sense you’re disappointed.
Yes, a bit disappointed, but Lee-Anne played great. She putted amazing on the front nine so it was hard to keep up with her. I really put my mind to trying to keep up with her. Maybe forced it a little bit too much, but in the end I had a chance and the last chip was very close.
What was your game plan going into the last round?
I just make birdies and be aggressive. I know I can make birdies and I know I can do it. I can play well under pressure so I wanted to, but oh well, next time.
What positives do you take out of this week?
Oh, I have so many positives. I hit the ball really, really well and I shifted my putting three weeks ago to left hand low and that has just made the world of difference for me. I’m putting so much better.
Is it difficult to juggle being a mum and top level golf?
Yes it is, but it’s maybe more satisfying, when you play well. You don’t have as much time any more, but maybe that’s better. You make use of your time, so when you have three hours of practice, you’ve got to practice for three hours.
Joanna Klatten (3^rd) 69 71 67 72=279
Tell me about your round.
I started off not so well. I was pretty nervous to be honest. It had been a while since I had been contending in a tournament so nerves get to you, but I managed to calm down and found my game again after a few holes. I played alright and did the best I could, so no regrets.
I’m extremely happy about my week. I really couldn’t have expected better than this, because I wasn't even sure I was going to play this week because of my tendonitis. I ended up coming over without any expectations and it worked out really well.
You can’t help but notice that your arm is heavily strapped. Is that a problem?
It’s actually alright because we’re lucky to have a very good physio on tour and he’s been looking after me every day. It’s getting better and I’m taking strong anti-inflammatories so it’s alright. I’m just not allowed to practice after each round, but its feeling good.
It’s been a busy time coming up, will it be okay?
I think so. I might have to pull out of British Open qualifying but we’ll see how it goes. The ground is so hard there it could hurt more so I’ll see how it goes the next few days and make a decision then.
 


  FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
275 - Lee-Anne Pace (RSA)  67 69 68 71
276 - Mikaela Parmlid (SWE)  69 71 66 70
279 - Joanna Klatten (FRA)  69 71 67 72
280 - Celine Herbin (FRA)  68 68 68 76
281 - Ashleigh Simon (RSA)  70 71 71 69, Gwladys Nocera (FRA)  69 72 69 71
282 - Linda Wessberg (SWE)  74 67 72 69, Carlota Ciganda (ESP)  74 71 66 71, Minea Blomqvist (FIN)  74 72 67 69, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA)  72 75 68 67, Marta Silva Zamora (ESP)  70 74 69 69
283 - Viva Schlasberg (SWE)  73 68 72 70, Beth Allen (USA)  69 72 69 73, Laura Cabanillas (ESP)  71 72 72 68, Melissa Reid (ENG)  70 69 72 72
284 - Eleanor Givens (ENG)  72 70 71 71, Margherita Rigon (ITA)  74 67 73 70, Veronica Zorzi (ITA)  73 70 69 72, Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER)  73 70 71 70, Valentine Derrey (FRA)  70 69 73 72, Rebecca Artis (AUS)  72 72 69 71, Nontaya Srisawang (THA)  73 69 69 73
285 - Vikki Laing (SCO)  69 73 71 72, Caroline Afonso (FRA)  72 69 74 70, Malene Jorgensen (DEN)  71 70 72 72, Isabella Ramsay (SWE)  69 69 71 76
286 - Carmen Alonso (ESP)  70 75 72 69, Emily Taylor (ENG)  77 70 68 71, Jia Yun Li (CHN)  72 66 76 72, Stacey Keating (AUS)  74 71 71 70, Stefania Croce (ITA)  73 70 71 72
287 - Megan Grehan (USA)  72 73 71 71, Cheyenne Woods (USA)  64 78 72 73, Kylie Walker (SCO)  70 71 73 73, Tania Elosegui (ESP)  66 74 75 72
288 - Louise Larsson (SWE)  72 70 70 76, Klara Spilkova (CZE)  71 69 76 72, Hannah Burke (ENG)  71 74 70 73, Marianne Skarpnord (NOR)  73 71 71 73
289 - Camilla Lennarth (SWE)  71 75 70 73, Charley Hull (ENG)  72 75 74 68, Maria Hernandez (ESP)  74 72 72 71, Holly Clyburn (ENG)  75 71 74 69, Sophie Walker (ENG)  73 74 75 67, Yu Yang Zhang (CHN)  71 75 70 73
290 - Sahra Hassan (WAL)  72 73 70 75, Diana Luna (ITA)  73 69 73 75, Bree Arthur (AUS)  75 71 70 74, Alison Whitaker (AUS)  71 74 77 68
291 - Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA)  74 70 72 75, Virginia Espejo (ESP)  73 73 75 70
292 - Emily Kristine Pedersen (DNK)  70 76 70 76, Tandi Cuningham (RSA)  73 69 74 76, Virginie Lagoutte (FRA)  74 72 70 76, Miriam Nagl (GER)  73 71 72 76, Mireia Prat (ESP)  73 69 76 74, Trish Johnson (ENG)  71 74 74 73
293 - Bonita Bredenhann (NAM)  72 75 74 72, Raquel Carriedo (ESP)  72 73 74 74, Daniela Holmqvist (SWE)  73 74 73 73, Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA)  75 72 72 74, Rebecca Sorensen (SWE)  74 73 73 73
294 - Marjet Van Der Graaff (NED)  75 72 73 74, Nikki Campbell (AUS)  73 72 76 73, Margarita Ramos (MEX)  73 72 74 75
295 - Ana Larraneta (ESP)  71 76 76 72, Marta Sanz (ESP)  74 73 75 73

296 - Eva Bjarvall (SWE)  71 76 77 72

301 - Emma Cabrera-Bello (ESP)  77 70 77 77, Melanie Maetzler (SUI)  73 74 72 82