After the second round, Nuria Iturrioz (-6) said she wanted to win the Santander Spanish Women’s Professional Championship “yes or yes, and if not this year, next year”. She won’t have to wait that long because this Friday she has lifted the trophy she so longed for after emerging victorious from a fierce head-to-head with Maria Parra (-5), a very worthy runner-up at Lauro Golf (Alhaurín de la Torre, Malaga).
The Mallorcan thus crowns, on a course where she was already happy in 2019 with another professional victory, a fantastic year in which she has once again tasted victory, both on the Ladies European Tour and on the Santander Golf Tour. This winning experience has undoubtedly played in her favour in a final as tight as the one experienced among the olive trees and holm oaks of the beautiful Malaga course.
Nuria Iturrioz started one stroke behind Maria Parra in a star match that was completed by Mireia Prat (-2), the third player who finished under par for the week. If she is usually aggressive by nature, when she takes on the role of pursuer on a final day, the Balearic is even more so. So she started the round looking for the flag without hesitation, and as a result, she made four birdies in the first five holes, which turned the classification upside down.
Maria Parra, for her part, not only did not flinch at the success of her today’s rival and always friend since they coincided at the National Blume School; three birdies in seven holes served her to keep up her pace and, incidentally, make it clear in case there was any doubt that this tournament was going to be a two-horse race.
The balance was broken on hole 16
All the successes on the part of both in the first nine holes turned into doubts in the second part of the course, something perfectly logical when such a precious booty is at stake. Even more so if the rain begins to fall, as was the case. It was seen on hole 11, a par 3 where Nuria Iturrioz and Maria Parra left it a meter from the flag but only the first one made the birdie.
On the 13th, Maria Parra regained the lead thanks to the misfortune of others; Nuria Iturrioz got into serious trouble by escaping to the left, an adventure that ended in double bogey. But the scoreboard regained balance on the 14th, when the Andalusian went to the bunker on that par 3 and did not hole her first putt.
Thus, in total equality, the two involved plunged headlong into the last three holes, the real ones. Maria Parra missed a meter and a half putt on the 16th that would ultimately be decisive, no matter how much she did everything possible to regain balance on the 18th with a fabulous driver; undoubtedly, one of the best shots of the week. The approach was a bit short and there she missed the last chance to catch Nuria Iturrioz, very solid in that final stretch of the round.
Waiting on that 18th green were other protagonists of this Santander Spanish Women’s Professional Championship. From Teresa Toscano (+2), who has made a very worthy defense of the title, to Marta Martin (+3), fifth tied with Harang Lee and star protagonist in the first two rounds.
In addition, special mention for the Canarian Keira Gonzalez (+5), ninth and best amateur classified at Lauro Golf.
Santander, sponsor of the Spanish Women’s Professional Championship
Banco Santander has sponsored this new edition of the Spanish Women’s Professional Championship. Santander’s participation in this competition is part of its commitment to Spanish professional women’s golf, reflected in the successful celebration of the Santander Golf Tour, a circuit made up in 2023 by ten tests, among which is this Santander Spanish Women’s Professional Championship.
The Santander Golf Tour is a firm commitment by Banco Santander to professional women’s golf and has the support of Santander Private Banking and Carmignac and HSN, as sponsors, and with RSM, as collaborators. Tribute, Wilson Golf, Ms Worker, Estrella Damm are preferred suppliers. The Royal Spanish Golf Federation and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation along with the rest of the territorial federations where the circuit passes add the rest of the essential supports for the celebration of this tour.
At the microphone
Nuria Iturrioz (Spanish Champion with 210 strokes, -6)
“I’m very happy. It’s a title that I’ve always wanted to have in the showcase and now I have it with me, finally! I had to go tight from the beginning because Maria made it very difficult for me. And besides, I came out wanting to match or improve my record on this course, and things were going well.
The second nine holes were more complicated to get birdies because it started to rain for real, but despite that the level we have given has been very good. This is a course that I like a lot, it’s a bit like my home. Lauro is familiar, with a good atmosphere and good energy. There is a very good aura.
Life is stages. In 2019 I won quite a bit, I’ve been in a time when it’s been harder and here I am again. One grows, discovers new things and moves forward to find that optimal moment again. I hope it lasts until 2024.
I dedicate the victory to my family, my coach and those who always surround me and help me. And of course to Piti (Martinez), who has been my caddy for the last two months and brings me a lot of positive energy”.
Around the green
Double prize for Mireia Prat
The Catalan golfer was not only distinguished this Friday as the winner of the Order of Merit of the Santander Golf Tour 2023 -an award that responds to her three victories throughout the course-, but she also received the prize that designates her as Player of the year. This award is even more beautiful if possible, since it is given based on the votes of the players themselves on the circuit.
Awards ceremony
Nuria Iturrioz has received the trophy that credits her as Spanish Professional Champion from Pablo Mansilla, President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation. During the event, held at the Lauro Golf clubhouse, the leader congratulated the winner and highlighted the value of Spanish professional women’s golf.
Luna Sobron, with Solheim caddie
The Balearic Luna Sobron has had one of the caddies of the moment this week, Alvaro Prada, who usually works with Carlota Ciganda on the PGA Tour. Many of you will remember this Leonese for his passage with the Navarrese golfer in the successful Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin. The hug between the two after her historic putt on the 17th is already history of our golf.
Marrakech on the horizon
A dozen golfers who have played this week the Santander Spanish Women’s Professional Championship 2023 have an important challenge from December 10 to 12 in Morocco, specifically on the courses of Rotana, Samanah and Noria Golf Club, in Marrakech. It is the preview of the qualifying school of the Ladies European Tour.
The involved are Natasha Fear, Maria Parra, Marta Perez, Laura Gomez, Marta Perez, Harang Lee, Teresa Toscano, Reme Cortes, Raquel Romero, Teresa Diez Moliner, Maria Herraez and Clara Moyano. The golfers who overcome this first hurdle will seek the card of the first European women’s circuit from the 16th to the 20th also on Moroccan soil.
