Belmont, Michigan – Carlota Ciganda won the last two holes of Meijer’s LPGA Classic on Sunday to win the first LPGA Tour victory of 8.5 years, while Lexi Thompson had two late bogeys in recognition of her fighting for her long drought.
Ciganda hit a foot to set up his own birdie on the 17th hole of the 4th, and then made a 4-foot comeback on the 5th to avoid a playoff with partner Hye-Jin Choi.
“Over the years, it’s obviously amazing,” the 35-year-old Spanish player said. “I know I can do it, but obviously once the past few years have been growing, you’re starting to grow up and you start to doubt yourself.”
Part of the six-way draw that began at Brycefield County Club, Ciganda scored a fourth straight 5-67 in the 60s, ending with a 272-shot in the wood-lined layout, ending with a 272-shot final in the Texas final in the final match of the KPMG Big KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
“I love to come here,” Cigar said. “It reminds me of Spain from northern Spain. Very similar. A lot of trees, peace. I love golf courses. Five 5 5 and you can hit hard here.”
Ciganda’s first victory in 8 years, 7 months and 2 days since the 2016 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. She had three LPGA Tour victories and won eight championships on the European Ladies Tour, the last in December at the Spanish Women’s Open.
“I have a chance to win this game,” Choi said. “But the bogey on the 17-hole is, yes, just the one I’m considering.”
South Korean player Somi Lee ranks 14th after he was 65 years old.
Thompson tied for fourth place with Celine Boutier (67) and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (70).
Thompson, 2015 champion, won the last place in 11 LPGA Tour titles on the ShopRite LPGA Classic in early June 2019. She got her sixth start of the season on her part-time tour schedule.
“This is my favorite event,” Thompson said. “The fans are great and come out to support women’s golf, and that’s what we want.”
The 30-year-old from Florida was in trouble on the 16th hole of the fourth stroke. She tried to place the ball under the elevated green hole, but she rolled forward in close proximity and rolled along the hillside to the rough hillside. She hit 8 feet and missed the PAR putt. At 17, she missed a 3-foot player.
“It’s not the end I want,” Thompson said. “But into the week, I didn’t play a great golf ball, kind of locked in the middle of the week.”
Last year, Thompson lost to Lilia VU in the playoffs.
Ciganda matches Beatriz Rocari with the most players in Spanish wins. The former Arizona State player is the oldest LPGA Tour champion since he was 36 in the 2022 T-Mobile game.
“To me, age is just a number,” Ciganda said. “I’m not as fresh as I was when I was 24, but I still feel like I can play and I can win here. I love playing. I love Thursday to Sunday. I love playing.”
