Ainhoa Olarra, a player from San Sebastián, has achieved her first individual victory at the national level by winning the first qualifying event for the 2010 National Women's Rankings at the Arcos Gardens course in Cádiz, a competition that has opened the 2010 amateur golf calendar.
Her victory is all the more remarkable given how she achieved it, withstanding pressure from highly experienced players who were aiming to dethrone her on this third and final day of play. The day began with 61 players still in contention after the cut following the first 36 holes, and with Ainhoa Olarra in the lead after her commendable round of 71 strokes (1 under par), which allowed her to replace Luna Sobrón from the Balearic Islands, the initial star of the competition, as the leader.
The player from Basozábal said goodbye to the competition with a score of even par (72), a remarkable result that was almost overshadowed by the stunning comeback of Noemí Jiménez from Málaga, who shot 66 (6 under par) to climb to second place. Just one stroke separated the Andalusian from the playoff.
Third place went to one of the most decorated players at the tournament in Cádiz, Inés Díaz-Negrete from Asturias. Her 68 strokes (4 under par) helped her climb the standings, overtaking golfers such as Luna Sobrón, Camilla Hedberg from Barcelona, and Rocío Sánchez from Málaga, who finished outside the top three.
The weather conditions hit the Cadiz countryside hard, to the point of causing substantial delays in the starts and forcing the withdrawal of local player Belén Mozo, one of the main attractions of the competition.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION
1.- AINHOA OLARRA 216 (73+71+72)
2.- NOEMÍ JIMÉNEZ 217 (75+76+66)
3.- INÉS DÍAZ-NEGRETE 219 (73+78+68)
Full results
Full Under-18 Ranking
Complete Cadet Classification
RESULTS OF PREVIOUS DAYS
Full results
Hole by hole, second day
Under-18 classification second day
Cadet classification second day
Hole by hole, first day
Under-18 classification first day
Cadet classification first day
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
January 9-11, Arcos Gardens
Information and registration
List of participants