Carlota's 2nd Euro-Title
Carlota
Ciganda (Spa) wins her 2nd European Championship title since
2004 by way of a playoff against Maria Hernandez. Christel
Boeljon (Ned) grabs the Bronze medal after finishing fourth
in last year's championship.
Dramatic final 18 holes with overtime at the International
European Ladies Amateur Championship in GC Schloss Schönborn.
The two Spanish players, Carlota Ciganda
and Maria Hernandez, as well as the Dutch
Christel Boeljon delivered a spectacular
'final flight' shootout for the European Championship title.
The lead changed numerous times on the final day with each
player leading by a nose at some point during the round.
Maria Hernandez played aggressively the
entire day and was able to take a three shot lead, while
Ciganda had to cope with three Bogeys in
the first third of the round. Christel Boeljon
fought her way in with two Birdies shortly before half-time.
On the back 9, Ciganda was able to celebrate her Birdies
on the 8 and 11, thus taking the lead while her Spanish
teammate was forced to fall back after playing three Bogeys.
Matters took a turn on the 17 Par 4 as Ciganda overhit the
green, almost chipped into the water and ended the hold
with a double Bogey. "That's when I thought it was
over and that I would lose." Recalled Ciganda afterwards.
With Bogeys on the Par 5's - 13 and 16 - Boeljon lost her
chance at the title, giving Hernandez a slim one shot lead
going into the 18th.
.
It
was a matter of pure nerves for all three players on the
final hole, with all having to fight for their Par. After
Ciganda and Boeljon were only able to deliver a Par on the
Par 5, Hernandez only had make a one metre putt in order
to claim the title, but the 22-year-old from Pamplona missed.
It was 75 strokes for Ciganda and Boeljon and 76 strokes
for Hernandez who, along with her Spanish teammate ended
the 2008 European Championship tied in the lead.
Thus, the decision of who would be crowned European Champion
only came after a 3-hole playoff, as it did in the previous
year with Carlota Ciganda and for the first
time Maria Hernandez. With Birdies on the
first two extra holes (7 and 8), Ciganda took the lead,
while Hernandez was only able to win a shot on the 8th.
On number 9 Par 3 it was a clear decision after Hernandez
shot her ball into the greenside bunker. Maria almost holed
her sand shot though, but the Par simply was not enough
as Ciganda safely made two putts to end the playoff with
two under Par.
"This title is just as nice as my first one as a fourteen-year-old."
Beamed Ciganda, "...but it was really hard for me to
be in a playoff against another Spaniard." As opposed
to the previous year's
playoff loss to Caroline Hedwall, Ciganda
took advantage this time.
Fourth place went to Denmark's Charlotte Kring-Lorentzen
on Even Par. The best score on the final day - a 71 (-2)
- was scored by Naomi Edwards (Eng), Barbara
Genuini (Fra) and Lara Katzy (D).
The best Austrian was the 20-year-old Martina Hochwimmer
from Salzburg in 13th position, thanks to the strong
final round of 72..