Just a fortnight on from playing her part in Europe’s Solheim Cup victory at Gleneagles, Carlota Ciganda claimed the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open at Terramar Golf Club in Sitges, Spain, adding another unforgettable moment to her remarkable career.

It was the 2012 rookie of the year and order of merit winner’s first Ladies European Tour win on home soil and she said: “I’m very happy to win in Spain, with all the people here. My family is here and playing in Spain is always very special. It was a tough day and to be honest, it was very windy, with some crazy gusts on the course. I played pretty solid and tried to make the fairways, hit the greens and make a few putts. I played the par fives pretty good but I knew people were going to make mistakes, because it was playing quite tough. Towards the end, I saw that Esther was six or seven-under, but I wanted to get to ten: that was my aim for the day. I thought if I could get to ten I would be fine, but it was tough to get those birdies on the last few holes. The wind was quite strong, so I was happy to make those pars and win the tournament.”

It was her first individual tournament victory in three years, since the 2016 CitiBanamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational and capped a brilliant season, following on from eight top ten finishes on the LPGA Tour, including a tie for second in the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in March.

Ciganda had the chance to win in Sitges in similar circumstances two years ago, with a short par putt on 18, but the ball lipped out forcing a play-off, which she lost to Florentyna Parker. She admitted that the memory returned as she faced a similar par putt to win from around five feet on the 18^th hole and said: “I just said keep your head still and make this putt and win the tournament. I don’t want to go through another play-off because anything can happen and the putt went in, so I’m very, very happy.”

The next LET tournament is the Hero Women’s Indian Open. In the meantime, Ciganda said that she would enjoy a party with her extended family in Spain. Ladies European Tour will be back in Spain in November, the 28th, at Aloha Golf Club, when celebrating Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de España.