Belén Mozo from Cádiz has achieved victory in the British Ladies Amateur, one of the most prestigious and relevant tournaments in the world on the non-professional women's circuit, after beating Swedish player Anna Nordqvist 3/1 in the final.

Belén Mozo thus becomes the third Spanish woman to achieve victory in this important competition after the successes of Marta Prieto from Seville in 2001 and Elisa Serramià from Barcelona in 2003.

In a final that promised to be very close – the Nordic golfer had just defeated María Hernández from Navarre in a hard-fought semifinal – Belén Mozo built a significant lead after winning the first three holes. She then maintained her advantage with a safe and solid game.

At the Royal County Down in Newcastle (Northern Ireland), the player from Cadiz made the most of her extraordinary form to overcome the first two days played under the 'stroke play' format in third position and, from that moment on, go on to overcome elimination rounds against very high quality rivals.

In her first match she defeated Canadian Meaghan Leblanc (6/5), in the round of 16 she defeated German Thea Hoffmeister (2/1), in the round of 16 she defeated Swedish Py Bengtsson (1up), in the quarterfinals she defeated German Katharina Schallenberg (1up), and in the semifinals she defeated English Naomi Edwards (7/6).

The Cadiz native thus achieves one of the most important victories in a sporting career studded with triumphs such as the 2002 Spanish Children's Championship, the 2004 Doral Publix Junior Classic, the 2004 The Thunderbird International Junior – these last two in American lands – or the 2005 and 2006 Spanish International Junior Female Championship.

In addition to Belén Mozo and María Hernández, five other Spanish golfers participated in the British tournament: Azahara Muñoz, who finished the first phase in first position; Mariana Macías, who fell in the round of 16; Carlota Ciganda, who did not pass the first round; and Carolina Andrade and Isabel Álvarez, who did not make the cut.

END
Belén Mozo (ESP) defeats Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 3/1

SEMIFINALS

Belén Mozo has secured her place in the final of the British Ladies Amateur tournament being held in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, after a convincing 7-6 victory over England's Naomi Edwards in the second semifinal. Earlier, Sweden's Anna Nordqvist eliminated María Hernández in the other semifinal match.

The player from Cádiz, who from the first day of play has shown herself to be very comfortable at Royal County Down, didn't seem fazed by the pressure of being in the semifinals and displayed confidence in her abilities. Thus, she won seven holes and didn't lose a single one against the British player.

In the final, she will face Nordic player Anna Nordqvist, who struggled to overcome María Hernández in a thrilling and unpredictable match. So much so, that the player from Navarre led 2 up on the 10th hole, but just like last year, her dream ended in the semifinals.

SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS
Anna Nordqvist (SWE) defeats Maria Hernandez (ESP) 2-1
Belén Mozo (ESP) defeats Naomi Edwards (ENG) by 7/6

QUARTER FINALS

Two Spanish players, María Hernández and Belén Mozo, have reached the semi-finals of the British Ladies Amateur being held in Newcastle (Northern Ireland), after resolving their respective quarter-final commitments against England's Sophie Walker (7/6) and Germany's Katharina Schallenberg (1up).

María Hernández, just as she did last year, reached the semifinals of this prestigious tournament, one of the most important amateur competitions in the world. On that occasion, the player from Navarre was eliminated from the competition after losing to Sweden's Louise Stahle, the eventual winner.

In this edition, María Hernández reached the semifinals after displaying an exceptionally high level of play. Although she shot 78 in the first round, she matched par (75) in the second, making the cut. From then on, she gave her rivals few opportunities.

So much so that against her latest victim, Sophie Walker, she was leading 6 up after only nine holes. From that moment on, everything became easier, and the Spanish player was able to play with composure, enjoy herself, and close out the match.

Belén Mozo encountered more difficulties against the German Katharina Schallenberg, a tough rival who in previous rounds had already shown her extraordinary skills on the Royal County Down course.

The player from Cádiz won the first hole, but her opponent quickly erased her lead. Belén Mozo built a lead on holes 7, 8, and 9 that could have been decisive, but the German player rallied and leveled the score on the 17th. However, on the 18th, the Spaniard secured the victory and earned a hard-fought passage to the semifinals.

TITLE ELIMINATIONS
Quarter-final
Belén Mozo (ESP) defeats Katharina Schallenberg (GER) by 1up
María Hernández (ESP) defeats Sophie Walker (ENG) 7-6
Anna Nordqvist (SWE) defeats Florentyna Parker (ENG) by 1up
Naomi Edwards (ENG) defeats Tricia Mangan (IRE) by 1up

ROUND OF 16
Spanish players Belén Mozo and María Hernández have secured their place in the quarterfinals of the British Ladies Amateur by winning their respective third-round matches on the final holes, while Mariana Macías said goodbye to the competition after falling to England's Naomi Edwards.

The player from Cádiz, who is having a splendid tournament, defeated Sweden's Py Bengtsson 1up in one of the most exciting matches of this round of 16. Her next opponent will be Germany's Katharina Schallenberg, who beat Canada's Laura Matthews, also on the final hole.

The other Spanish representative still in the competition is María Hernández, who struggled to make the cut on the second day but has been unstoppable in the knockout rounds so far. In the round of 16, she defeated Ireland's Maura Morrin (2-1). Her opponent in the quarterfinals will be England's Sophie Walter.

In this third round, only Mariana Macías, one of the pleasant surprises of the tournament for Spanish hopes, lost her chances. The Madrid native fell to fellow Briton Naomi Edwards 5-3, although she has left a very good impression throughout these four days of play.

TITLE ELIMINATIONS
Round of 16
Belén Mozo (ESP) beats Py Bengtsson (SUE) by 1up.
María Hernández (ESP) defeats Maura Morrin (IRE) 2-1
Naomi Edwards (ENG) defeats Mariana Macías (ESP) by 5/3.

ROUND OF 32
The three Spanish players who advanced past the first round of the prestigious British Ladies Union tournament being held in Newcastle (Northern Ireland), Belén Mozo, María Hernández and Mariana Macías, also emerged victorious from the second round and are now preparing for their round of 16 matches.

Belén Mozo, who had no trouble qualifying in the first round, achieved an important victory against the German Thea Hoffmeister by 2/1, which allows her to face the Swedish Py Bengtsson in the next round.

Meanwhile, María Hernández defeated Welsh player Breanne Loucks 6-4, proving that her strong performance in the stroke play phase and the first knockout round was no fluke. The Navarrese player's next opponent, in the round of 16, will be Ireland's Maura Morrin, who eliminated her compatriot Martina Gillen in the round of 32.

María Hernández, whose titles include the 2003 Spanish Individual Championship and a victory at the 2005 Mediterranean Games in Almería, already knows what it's like to reach the semifinals, having done so in last year's edition. She lost her chance at victory then to Sweden's Louise Stahle.

Furthermore, Mariana Macías cemented her status as the most pleasant surprise of this British Ladies Amateur by defeating Australian Kate Combes 1up, though not without some uncertainty. The Madrid native, who studies at Auburn University in the United States, will face England's Naomi Edwards in the round of 16. Edwards, in turn, eliminated the second-highest-ranked player in the stroke play stage, Ireland's Claire Coughlan.

TITLE ELIMINATIONS
Round of 32
Belén Mozo (ESP) beats Thea Hoffmeister (GER) 2/1.
Mariana Macías (ESP) defeats Kate Combes (AUS) by 1up.
Maria Hernandez (ESP) defeats Breanne Loucks (WAL) by 6/4.

THIRTY-SECOND ROUND OF 16
Three Spanish players – Belén Mozo, María Hernández and Mariana Macías – have qualified for the round of 32 of the British Ladies Amateur being held at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.

The player from Cádiz defeated Canadian Meaghan Leblanc 6-5, confirming her excellent form. The winner of the last edition of the Spanish Junior Women's International Championship finished third in the first phase of the competition with a solid and convincing game that she will need to maintain to overcome her next opponent, German Thea Hoffmeister.

Meanwhile, María Hernández defeated Scotland's Roseanne Niven 2-1 in a thrilling match and will face Wales' Breanne Loucks in her second-round match. Mariana Macías had similar luck, continuing her recent form and defeating France's Anne-Lise Caudal 4-3. Her next opponent will be Australia's Kate Combes.

The surprise of the day came from South African Stacy Topples, who eliminated Azahara Muñoz in the duel between the first-ranked player in the stroke play phase and the last to make the cut scheduled at the end of the first 36 holes.

The Malaga native, who had displayed exceptional form in previous days, was outplayed by Stacy Topples' five birdies and two bogeys. Despite this unexpected result – the Spaniard had a cumulative score of 16 strokes under par after the first two rounds – Azahara Muñoz leaves the British Ladies Amateur having clearly demonstrated her excellent skill.

Carlota Ciganda, who started as Spain's top contender after her recent successes, also had no luck. The player from Navarre lost to Canadian Laura Matthews by 1 up, despite showing signs of improvement in the second round after a lackluster start to the tournament.

TITLE ELIMINATIONS
Round of 32
Stacy Bregman (RSD) defeats Azahara Muñoz (ESP) 2-1
Belén Mozo (ESP) defeats Meaghan Leblanc (CAN) by 6/5
Mariana Macías (ESP) defeats Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) by 4/3
Maria Hernandez (ESP) defeats Roseanne Niven (SCO) 2-1
Laura Matthews (CAN) defeats Carlota Ciganda (ESP) by 1up