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 8½ years, while Lexi Thompson had two late bogeys to dash her bid to end a long drought of her own.
Ciganda hit to a foot to set up her birdie on the par-4 17th, then made a 4-foot comebacker on the par-5 18th to avoid a playoff with playing partner Hye-Jin Choi.
“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 shot a 5-under 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 major KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Texas.
“I love coming here,” Ciganda said. “It reminds me of Spain where I’m from in the northern part of the Spain. Very similar. Lots of trees, peaceful. I love the golf course. Five par 5s, you can hit it hard here.”
Ciganda won for the first time since the 2016 Lorena Ochoa Invitational, a span of 8 years, 7 months, 2 days. She has three LPGA Tour victories and has won eight times on the…
