Carlota Ciganda and Julia López Ramírez were two of the leading protagonists of Europe‘s victory at the Solheim Cup at Bernardus. The Navarrese once again showed that this competition has something special for her, while the Málaga native ended her debut unbeaten with a singles win she will hardly forget.
Ciganda was also the one to make official on the course a triumph that Europe already had mathematically secured after Lottie Woad‘s win over Auston Kim. With her match against Jennifer Kupcho under control, the Spaniard was guaranteed at least the half point Anna Nordqvist‘s team needed to reach 14.5
“I’m very happy. We’ve had a fantastic team all week, one of the best in recent years, and I’m very pleased to have achieved it for Anna“, said Carlota straight after finishing. A special victory after what had happened just a few hours earlier. Kupcho had been precisely the one who, together with Lindy Duncan, left Ciganda and Céline Boutier without a point in the final fourball on Saturday with an extraordinary finish, holing from 91 feet at 17 and then deciding the match with another huge birdie at 18. On Sunday, Carlota took her own particular revenge
But beyond her individual performance, Ciganda emphasised one of the keys Europe has repeated throughout the week: the strength of the group. “We are all one unit, a team. That’s what it’s about. We had a great time”, she explained. And she also left a line that perfectly summarises her special relationship with the Solheim. A competition in which three years ago she was the heroine at Finca Cortesín with the point that allowed Europe to retain the trophy against the United States. “I don’t know what happens to me at the Solheim, but I hole so many putts. I have to take this mentality into regular tournaments!”, she joked
Julia López, a debut to remember
If Carlota already represents the experience and recent history of Europe in the Solheim, Julia López Ramírez is the future that is beginning to make its way. Her first appearance could not have been much better: two matches played, one win and one draw to total one and a half points from two possible and leave Bernardus unbeaten
After drawing on Friday alongside Ciganda against Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin, Julia was given by Nordqvist the responsibility of facing Yealimi Noh in the singles. And she responded with a 3&2 victory that brought Europe even closer to the Cup
The Spaniard closed the match on the par-5 16th and the scenes afterwards explained better than any statistic the place she has earned on the team: arms raised to the sky and several of her team-mates running towards her to celebrate the point together. “I can’t put it into words. That was the most important putt of my career. It was simply incredible”, admitted Julia
The nerves were there, as was inevitable for a debutant playing Solheim singles with the Cup at stake, but she managed them. “I was nervous and I think I handled it very well. I’m very proud of myself. I’ve worked so hard to live a day like this”, she said. And there was clear proof of the intensity with which she had experienced her first Solheim: “I’ve lost my voice from shouting so much. It’s been an incredible week. I tried to play for the team, to play for Anna“
It was precisely there that the two Spaniards met. Ciganda spoke of a Europe turned into “a unit” and Julia explained virtually the same from the perspective of someone who has just discovered the competition from within. “I just wanted to do it for the team because they have all been incredible. In these moments you forget about yourself. There are things that are bigger than that”, assured López
Carlota and Julia. The veteran who seems to find a different gear every time she puts on the colours of Europe and the debutante who leaves Bernardus without a single defeat. Two generations of Spanish golf united by the same competition and by the same idea: at the Solheim, the team comes above everything
