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Azahara Munoz wins Costa del Sol Open title

Spaniard Azahara Munoz successfully defended her Costa del Sol title on home soil
Image: Spaniard Azahara Munoz successfully defended her Costa del Sol title on home soil

Azahara Munoz has retained her Andalucia Costa del Sol Open title, by carding a closing 69 for a two-shot victory on her home course.

The 29-year-old had started the final round tied for the lead with fellow Spaniard Carlota Ciganda at Real Club de Guadalmina.

After dropping a stroke at the par-three third, Munoz made her move with three straight birdies from the fifth, and was never headed thereafter.

Ciganda and Lee-Anne Pace tied for second, with rounds of 71 and 69 respectively, but they were unable to catch Munoz who all but sealed her fifth European Tour triumph with her fifth birdie of the day on 17.

Ciganda and Pace both eagled the par-five 18th but it was too late to deny Munoz who admitted: "I couldn't be any happier, defending my title on my home course.

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"It's been an amazing week and all the fans were here supporting me, so I'm happy I did it for them.

"I've been playing so well all week and today I didn't play my best, especially on the back nine, but shooting an eight-under (on Friday) always helps.

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"Today on the back nine, I made some amazing up and downs, so that was definitely the key." She also holed a 30-footer for birdie on 14.

England's Georgia Hall, who started the final round three shots off the pace, finished three adrift following a 69.

She suffered two bogeys early in her round but recovered with an eagle on the seventh and a birdie at the eighth.

Another pair of bogeys arrived on 12 and 14, but she finished strongly with four birdies in her last five holes.

Hall said: "I had quite a poor weekend really and didn't play that well.

"My putting has been good this week apart from yesterday but my pitching has been my weakness, so I'll work on that for the next event."

Top Six:

-19: Azahara Munoz (69)

-17: Lee-Anne Pace (67)

-17: Carlota Ciganda (71)

-16: Georgia Hall (69)

-13: Natalia Escuriola Martinez (69)

-10: Meghan MaClaren (71)

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