BELMONT, Mich. — Carlota Ciganda birdied the final two holes to win the Meijer LPGA Classic on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour victory in more than 8 1/2 years, while Lexi Thompson had two late bogeys to dash her bid to end a long drought of her own.
Ciganda’s approach shot set up a one-footer for a birdie on the par-4 17th, and she made a four-foot comebacker on the par-5 18th to avoid a playoff with playing partner Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea.
“It feels amazing, obviously, after all these years,” the 35-year-old Spanish player said. “I knew I could do it, but obviously once the years keep going and you start getting older, you start doubting yourself.”
Part of a six-way tie to start the day at Blythefield County Club, Ciganda closed with a 5-under-par 67 — her fourth straight round in the 60s — to finish at 16-under 272 on the tree-lined layout in the final event before the Women’s PGA Championship. The third women’s major of the year starts Thursday in Texas, with Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco the host course.
Ciganda enjoyed the layout at Blythefield, just as she always does.