Camilla Hedberg has achieved a prestigious victory in the inaugural Women's National Ranking Tournament of 2011, which culminated in a thrilling finale at El Valle Golf (Murcia). The third and final day saw a vibrant duel between Barcelona native Noemí Jiménez and Carlota Ciganda, who held a comfortable lead after the 13th hole, only to see Hedberg complete a phenomenal comeback on the 18th.
Back in Spain to compete in this tournament, Carlota Ciganda was demonstrating on the Murcia course the qualities that have made her one of the most promising young female golfers in the world. In fact, on the 12th hole, she was comfortably at -3, which kept her safe from Noemí Jiménez's aggressive play. Three strokes separated the two of them in the total.
But everything changed on that hole. The player from Navarre carded two double bogeys on the 13th – which hampered all the participants – and on the 14th, allowing the player from Malaga to take the lead. Playing alongside them, Camilla Hedberg remained in second place – four strokes behind on the 15th – until she broke free on the 16th, where she made a birdie.
On this hole, both Carlota Ciganda and Noemí Jiménez carded a bogey. On the 17th, Camilla Hedberg caught up with her two rivals with another birdie, which they, having three-putted, couldn't answer. Thus, the three arrived at the 18th tee tied.
At this crucial point, Camilla Hedberg kept her composure to finish the hole with a par, which ultimately secured her the title. Carlota Ciganda couldn't manage better than a double bogey after missing two putts, and Noemí Jiménez had to settle for an insufficient bogey. Despite this, both the player from Málaga and the one from Navarre, who suffered a disappointing end, performed at a sensational level in the first tournament of the year. Their attitude and play lend even more prestige to Camilla Hedberg's victory.
With this victory, the golfer from Terramar (Barcelona) embellishes a record that already included two bronze medals in the 2009 and 2010 European Under-18 Team Championships and an individual victory in the 2009 Spanish Junior International.
Carlota Ciganda dominated the first two days
Carlota Ciganda renewed the prominence she had acquired in the first day by signing a card of 74 strokes, which added to the 69 that were already in her tally allowed her to settle in first place with a total of 143 strokes.
The competition, however, was fierce, as Noemí Jiménez was just one stroke behind the Navarrese player, having posted a sensational score of 69 strokes, 2 under par for the course, the best of the day, which allowed her to put a lot of pressure on the Navarrese player, who, like most, was affected by the continuous wind that blew in the area.
Also lurking in the shadow of Barcelona's Camilla Hedberg, who, with two rounds of 73 strokes, was emerging as a strong contender for the overall victory. Other young players, such as Belén Buendía, who finished third alongside Carlota Ciganda, Ha Rang Lee, Ainhoa Olarra, and Natalia Escauriola, also showcased their talent at this national women's golf festival.
This tournament, along with the Spanish Women's International Championship held at Sherry Golf in early March, the Valencian Community Women's Championship taking place at Panorámica in early May, and the Spanish Women's Individual Championship in Pedreña at the end of May, counts towards the National Absolute Women's Ranking – the Spanish Junior Women's International in mid-February also counts towards the National Under-18 Women's Ranking – the criteria that regulate the selection of players who will take part in the European Championships of both categories, to be held in the first days of July.
FINAL RESULTS
1.- HEDBERG STRETCH 217 (73+73+71)
2.- NOEMÍ JIMÉNEZ 218 (75+69+74)
3.- BELÉN BUENDÍA 219 (71+77+71)
+.- CARLOTA CIGANDA 219 (69+74+76)
