Carmen Pérez-Narbón from Valencia has won the International Championship of Mexico with authority, which concluded in the country's capital with a double Spanish success, as the duo formed by the golfer from Levante and Araceli Felgueroso from Madrid also won the title in the pairs event.
Carmen Pérez-Narbón, a 19-year-old student at the University of North Carolina, maintained her seven-stroke lead over her closest rivals at the end of the second round, where she carded the best round of the tournament, a 66 (6 under par). She achieved this with a round of 77 (5 over par), giving her a four-stroke advantage over Mexico's Alejandra Llaneza in the final standings.
The Valencian golfer's strong performance was complemented by Araceli Felgueroso's remarkable showing, resulting in a Spanish victory in the pairs competition with a five-stroke lead over Colombian Ana Martínez and Alejandra Llaneza. The Madrid native also finished ninth in the individual competition.
This was the first time a Spanish pair had participated in the Women's International Championship in Mexico. The Men's Championship, on the other hand, has seen a greater number of Spanish entries, which facilitated Sebastián García Grout and Ignacio Sánchez Palencia's doubles victory in 2004.
The two Spanish representatives thus seized the opportunity to add to their respective achievements in the New World, where both are pursuing their university studies and continuing their golf development. Araceli Felgueroso has so far won two tournaments on the US college circuit, the Unlimited Potential Classic (2006) and the USF Invitational (2007); meanwhile, Carmen Pérez-Narbón earned her first victory last October at the Lady Paladin Invitational.
CLASSIFICATION BY PAIRS
1.- Spain 453 (155+141+157)
2.- Colombia-Mexico 458 (155+150+153)
3.- Belgium 461 (155+149+157)
INDIVIDUAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Carmen Pérez-Carbón (ESP) 218 (75+66+77)
2.- Alejandra Llaneza (MEX) 222 (76+72+74)
3.- Valentine Gevers (BEL) 227 (82+71+74)
…
9.- Araceli Felgueroso (ESP) 235 (80+75+80)
