In 2013, the French players dominated most of the Lacoste Ladies Open de France but they were joined in a final round battle against representatives from the home nation, Spain, England and South Africa.
The first round lead was shared by England’s Hannah Burke and Joanna Klatten of France after they both opened with six-under-par 64s at Golf de Chantaco.
In the second round, French former LET No.1 Gwladys Nocera fired a seven-under-par 63, the lowest round of the tournament, to join Joanna Klatten in the lead on 10-under-par.
Still at 10-under after Saturday’s third round, three French players were flying the Tricolore at the top of the leaderboard. Valentine Derrey, Joanna Klatten and Gwladys Nocera just ahead of Spanish Solheim Cup stars Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda, at nine and eight-under-par respectively., with fellow European team member Charley Hull of England and South African Lee-Anne Pace also just two shots behind the leaders on eight-under-par.
In the final round, Azahara Muñoz of Spain fired a 65 and came from a stroke behind the all-French trio to claim her second Ladies European Tour title by a stroke from Nocera and Derrey on a total of 266, 14-under-par.
This was Muñoz’s third career victory after she won the 2009 Madrid Ladies Masters on her professional debut on the LET followed by the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship on the LPGA. In addition to the first prize of €37,500, she took home a Richard Mille – RM 007 watch, worth €38,500.
The most difficult holes during the championship were 14, 16 and 18 while number 7 played as the easiest hole on the course. There were 19 eagles in total during the week and 256 birdies in the first round alone.
