Weekend winners - Munoz claims historic victory on home soil
Ladies European Tour: Spanish Open – Azahara Munoz
The 28-year-old Munoz became the first Spanish winner of her national Open on a course just 10 minutes from her home.
Munoz (70) finished one shot ahead of American Beth Allen (72) who led by three at the turn but Allen made back-to-back bogeys at 12 and 13 before Munoz birdied 14 before giving the shot back at the next. The local girl then rolled one in from distance at 17 and then held her nerve up the last.
Allen found water left off the final tee and Munoz had the luxury of two putts from close range for an emotional win.
Just before there was more drama at the 18th as England’s Sophie Walker holed her 7-iron for eagle from 138 yards to share third with Georgia Hall, followed by another Englishwoman Florentyna Parker in fifth place.
Heart broken at @Openfemenino at #costadelsol but happy for @AzaharaGOLF! Really fun day out there. Sunday's like this are why I play!
— Beth Allen (@BethAllenGolf) September 25, 2016
What Munoz said: “It means everything. I love playing at home and finally we got this tournament back and hopefully for many more years. To be able to play here and just sleep at home, it’s amazing. It’s been a hard week and at the beginning of the week I was so stressed out and so anxious and finally, when I got to the 1st tee on Thursday, I felt so much better.
“I had so many opportunities and I hit so many putts that didn’t go in, but I kept telling myself, if I keep patient, it might happen and if I lose it, then it definitely won’t happen. I kept it together and finally I made such a good putt on the 17th and it’s funny because I had a similar putt that I made in Chantaco a few years ago and I thought about it and told myself, ‘You made this one before,’ and I did.”
What Allen said: “Obviously I’m super disappointed, especially having had a three-shot lead going into the back nine. I just didn’t play very well on the back nine and she did, so it’s fine. It’s second but it’s not the outcome I wanted.”
What Walker said: “The aim of the game is to get it in the hole, but you never fully expect it. I heard some ‘oohs’ and then I heard the crowd really scream. It’s just an amazing feeling and you can’t think of any better way to finish an event, on the 72nd hole, holing out for eagle. It was probably the best shot I’ve ever hit.”
