- Team Ciganda storm to a three shot victory on 43-under par
- Alison Lee makes history in the Individual event breaking the 36-hole LET scoring record
Team Ciganda triumphed on a historic day at the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Riyadh as they recorded a final round of 22-under par to win by three shots.
Starting the day tied at the top with Team Law, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, Italy’s Alessandra Fanali, Czechia’s Sara Kouskova, and Saudi Arabian amateur Lujain Khalil all read the low scoring script firing 23 birdies and one eagle collectively to secure gold in Saudi Arabia.
“I think it’s been a great two days”, Ciganda said, who won the Aramco Team Series – Florida Individual competition in May. “The girls played amazing and we had a great amateur. She made the winning putt to help us go 41-under. I think we had fun and we were a real team the last two days. I’m more happy for the girls than for me, I just love team events.”
Failing to gain a shot on the opening hole at Riyadh Golf Club, the quartet soon got things rolling going two-under on the 2nd hole thanks to birdies from Ciganda, Kouskova, and Khalil – the team’s 17-year-old playing off a handicap of seven.
From then on Team Ciganda did not look back, making the turn in 11-under par to gain ground on Team Cheenglab and Team Alison Lee who made the biggest early moves on day two.
After gaining five shots in the next five holes, the turning point came on the 15th as Ciganda holed out from the bunker for a remarkable eagle to move her side one shot off the lead.
With momentum high, the team picked up four shots in their final three holes to secure victory on 43-under par, a record 36-hole score in the Aramco Team Series.
Fanali, who shares a college alumni with Ciganda (Arizona State University) said: “It was so much fun. Credit to Carlota, she fought for the team and was so good. We had so much fun, especially at the end. On the last five holes there was a lot of good golf.”
While Kouskova, who did not hit a golf ball until Friday due to back pain, added: “It’s incredible. I’m having a hard time trying to soak it all in. Playing with a team like this, especially with Carlota leading, is essentially a dream come true. We had a blast and I think we were lost in the moment sinking birdies.”
Team Alison Lee and Team Cheenglab ended the competition in a tie for second on 40-under par. Team Law finished one shot back in fourth position.
In the Individual event, more records fell in Riyadh as Alison Lee continued her phenomenal form firing a second consecutive round of 61 (-11) to break the 36-hole scoring record on the Ladies European Tour (LET).
“If you told me at the beginning of the week I was going to shoot 22-under after two days I wouldn’t have believed you!” Lee said. “So I’m really happy with where I am right now. I made a lot of really good putts. Statistically [this season], driver, greens-in-regulation, everything’s been really good.”
Starting the day two shots ahead of her namesake Minjee Lee, the 28-year-old’s historic round got off to the perfect start when she birdied her opening two holes.
Having tied the consecutive birdie count on Friday firing eight in a row en route to a flawless 61 (-11) – a record equalling low round on the LET – Lee made four birdies in a row from the 5th to the 8th to go out in 30 for the second day in a row.
After a string of pars, the American fired four more consecutive birdies from the 12th to the 15th before a wonderful two on the signature par-3 17th moved Lee on to 59 watch.
Chasing an eagle on the last, Lee attempted to drive the green coming up just short as she found the desert sand. Despite a fine approach, Lee’s 18-foot birdie putt had too much break as she came up agonisingly short of breaking the LET scoring record in her own right.
“With five holes left, I kind of knew right then and there, ‘ok, let’s try and make a charge here’.” Lee continued. “Unfortunately, I left my putt short on 16, so I was a little disappointed. And it was a tricky putt I had [on 18]. I had to take it out pretty far to the left and let it break.”
Ciganda sits in solo second on 16-under par after she fired a flawless 63 (-9) en route to guiding her team to glory.
Two shots further back is Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg who also went low on day two carding a bogey-free round of 65 (-7).
Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab – currently leading the Rookie of the Year race – is third on 13-under par after rebounding from a double-bogey on the 10th to post a 64 (-8). If the leaderboard remains how it is tomorrow, Cheenglab would move to third in the Race to Costa del standings while extending her lead in the rookie race.
“I saw Sara [Kjellker] in the lead [yesterday], and I actually I got quite nervous!” Cheenglab said, who currently leads Kjellker by 352.12 points in the latter competition. “She’s playing pretty hot. I knew maybe I had to do something, so I tried to do my best to stay on top. I cannot lose any points on this course!
“My normal game is quite aggressive which is good for this golf course. I will do the same tomorrow.”
AIG Women’s Open rivals Charley Hull and Lilia Vu sit in a tie for fifth on 12-under par – the latter firing a round of 64 (-8) in Riyadh. Australia’s Minjee Lee, Wales’ Chloe Williams, and Sweden’s Sara Kjellker share seventh on 11-under par.
After 36 holes of action, the cut fell at two-under par with 63 players making it through to Sunday. The full leaderboard can be here
The third and final round of the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Riyadh tees off tomorrow morning at 7:20 local time.
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