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| Carlota Ciganda |
Carlota Ciganda of Spain fired a professional ladies’ course record of seven under par 66 during the third round of the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open at National Golf Club in Belek, Antalya.
The 21-year-old Ladies European Tour rookie from Pamplona mixed nine birdies with two bogeys to end at four under par, three shots behind the third round leader, defending champion Christel Boeljon.
Ciganda opened with a bogey on the par-five first hole after hitting her second shot left into the trees and with no shot to the green had to play out to the fairway. She then hit her fourth shot into a bunker but made a great up and down.
She made four birdies in a row from the second, sinking putts from three, eight, one metre and two metres respectively.
She added a fifth birdie at the par-four eighth hole, which gave her a four under par total on the front nine.
She then made a one metre birdie putt at the 10th before missing a two metre putt for an eagle opportunity on the par-five 14th.
At the 15th, she holed from three metres and then from five metres at the 16th.
She made a second bogey at the 17th after missing the green and also missed a two metre birdie putt on 18, which would have put her at eight under for the day.
“It was one of those days when everything went right. I hit 16 greens and hit close to the pins and making good putts and the back nine was better. I was playing great and I’m happy with the round.
“I had 26 putts and my second shots were very good. I was hitting close and today everything has been good. I hit the fairways and this course is very narrow.”
This is Ciganda’s first visit to Turkey and she continued: “The course is in great shape; the hotel is beautiful, the food all the time at the hotel and golf course, the people and everyone who organised it, you can’t ask for more and I’m very happy to be here.”
Ciganda also thanked her new caddie, Javi Urquizu from San Sebastian who is a one handicap golfer and started working for her this week.
Having won the Spanish Professional Championship a fortnight ago, Ciganda now feels ready to step up and win in her first season as a member of the Ladies European Tour.
“I feel ready but I know it’s not easy because I know there are many great players out there. Anything can happen and today I shot seven under but tomorrow it’s a new day and anything can happen.
“Tomorrow is a new day and I just want to go shot by shot, hole by hole and have a great day and enjoy Turkey.”
