Andalusian Azahara Muñoz delighted the galleries this weekend by retaining her home title at the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open of Spain Women, at his club Real Club Golf in Guadalmina, Spain.

  • Azahara Muñoz - © Tristan Jones / LET
The 29-year-old from the nearby village of San Pedro Alcantara has won numerous tournaments at the club since the age of nine. The Spaniard won with 4 cards of 68-64-67 and 69 to finish with two strokes ahead of her compatriot Carlota Ciganda and the South African Lee-Anne Pace, out of a total of 19 under par, under the eyes of former Ryder Cup player Miguel Angel Jimenez admiring the spectacle.

“I couldn't be happier, defending my title on my home run, where I grew up. It was an amazing week and all the fans were there to support me so I'm happy I did it for them. I played so well all week and today I was not on top of my game, especially on the back nine, but playing an eight under par always assists. Today on the back nine I had a few ups and downs which was definitely the key. "

Muñoz started the final round tied for the lead with Ciganda and bogeyed on the third hole, but quickly found himself in the lead after Ciganda made a double bogey on the fourth. The stage favorite then made three consecutive birdies from fifth to get a four-stroke lead, before carding a second bogey in 12th. She recovered a shot on the 14th long, birdieing with a 30-foot putt and then ended up birdie on the 17th (par-5).

The big performance of the day came from Pace, the 2013 champion, who eagle for a 67 card, before Ciganda did the same on the same hole for a 71 card and ended up second in equality.

Georgia Hall slipped back to fourth after two bogeys at the start of the round, but recovered with an eagle on the seventh and a birdie on the eighth. Another pair of bogeys on the 12th and 14th were followed by four birdies in their last five holes for a card of 69.

Hall said: “I had a really poor weekend and didn't play very well, but fourth is already that. I really wanted to try to win this week and my putts were pretty good, but I was hesitating between this and that club. My putting was good this week except yesterday, but my pitching was my weakness, so I'll be working on that for the next event. "

The conditions were fantastic all week with blue skies, the sun and a light breeze of the wind, nothing to disturb the players.

Earlier this week, Muñoz had promised to jump into the club's pool if she won and she duly did so by bombing the pool after the awards ceremony.

Another Spanish player, Natalia Escuriola Martinez, finished in fifth place, followed by Meghan MacLaren in sixth. Suzann Pettersen, just recovering from a back injury, tied for seventh place with Justine Dreher, Nicole Garcia, Camilla Lennarth and rising star Frida Kinhult.