France's Sara Brentcheneff (-10) has earned a well-deserved and prestigious victory at the 2023 Spanish Women's Stroke Play International, held at the La Faisanera course in Segovia. Galicia's Alba González (-5) was the strongest Spanish player on a cold and windy weekend.

Full results

Sara Brentcheneff had no trouble securing the title on the final day. The Frenchwoman started the day with a comfortable lead over her rivals. Her week at La Faisanera was flawless, with a remarkable ability to make birdies on the back nine – eleven, compared to three on the front – and to avoid trouble, as evidenced by the fact that she only bogeyed four times.

The best news on Sunday was the comeback of Alba González, who is increasingly establishing herself as a top contender in Spanish golf. Her second 68 of the week propelled her up three places to second. Third place went to fellow Frenchwoman Ariane Klotz (-4), who played under par all three days.

Equally commendable is the performance of other young Spanish players, such as Patricia Bañón, fourth with -3, or Adriana García Terol and Liz Hao, who have shared eighth position with +1.

Sara Brentcheneff's mastery from start to finish

The first day of the tournament saw Sara Brentcheneff take the lead with a score of 68, a score unmatched by the other golfers. Following her were her compatriot Ariane Klotz, with a round of 69, and a trio of Spanish players—Liz Hao, Mónica del Valle, and Patricia Bañón—all with 70 strokes.

On the second day, Sara Brentcheneff significantly improved upon her first-round result, carding a 65 to establish a comfortable lead. Sweden's Blodie Persson, Northern Ireland's Valerie Clacy, and Ariane Klotz, six strokes behind, were considered her main rivals in the fight for the title, an honor that ultimately went to Alba González.

The French champion ends the Spanish streak

Sara Brentcheneff has broken the streak of local victories in this tournament which, it should be remembered, replaced in 2012 the classic I Rantuable Nacional Femenino that was traditionally held in the first days of January.

In the 2013 edition, Luna Sobrón triumphed at the Las Colinas & Country Club course in Alicante, finishing one stroke ahead of Natalia Escuriola. In 2014, Nuria Iturrioz won, overtaking Ana Peláez, who led at the start of the final round, on the closing holes.

The following two years were dominated by foreign golfers. In 2015, the Swiss player Albane Valenzuela won decisively at Torre Mirona, leaving Elena Hualde in fourth place, and in 2016, the French player Pauline Roussin-Brouchard won at Costa Dorada, with the golfer from Navarre finishing in a commendable third place.

Since then, local dominance has been almost total, only interrupted by the triumph of the Russian Nataliya Guseva in 2019; Elena Arias (2017), Blanca Fernández (2018), Paula Martín (2021) and Anna Cañadó (2022) had been in charge of keeping the title at home.

FINAL RESULTS

1.- Sara Brentcheneff (FRA) 203 (68+65+70)

2.- Alba González (ESP) 208 (72+68+68)

3.- Ariane Klotz (FRA) 209 (69+70+70)

See the full results, photo gallery and other information below in the Related Links section.

Results, pictures gallery and additional information below, in Related Links.