Carlota Ciganda wins Meijer LPGA
Classic for her first LPGA Tour victory in more than 8 1/2 years
[June 16, 2025]
BELMONT, Mich. (AP) — 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 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 Ladies European
Tour, the last in December in the Spanish Women's Open.
Choi finished with a 68, also shooting in the 60s all four days. She
rebounded from a bogey on 17 to birdie 18.
“I had a chance to win this tournament,” Choi said. “But the bogey
on 17 hole was, yeah, just the one I’m thinking about.”
Fellow South Korean player Somi Lee was third at 14 under after a
65.
Thompson had a 70 to tie for fourth with Celine Boutier (67) and
Nanna Koerstz Madsen (70).
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Thompson, the 2015 winner at Blythefield, won the
last of her 11 LPGA Tour titles in early June 2019 at the ShopRite
LPGA Classic. She made her sixth start of the season in a part-time
tour schedule.
“It’s my favorite event on the schedule,” said
Thompson, also set to play in the major at PGA Frisco. “Fans are
amazing and come out and support women’s golf and that’s what we
want.”
The 30-year-old from Florida ran into trouble on the par-4 16th. She
tried to leave the ball below the hole on the elevated green, but
her approach rolled off the front and down a hill into rough. She
hit a flop shot to 8 feet and missed the par putt. On 17, she missed
a 3-footer.
“Not the finish I wanted coming down the stretch there,” Thompson
said. “But coming into the week I wasn’t playing great golf and kind
of latched onto something that got me through the week.”
Last year in the event, Thompson lost in a playoff to Lilia Vu.
Ciganda matched Beatriz Recari for the most victories by a Spanish
player. The former Arizona State player is the oldest LPGA Tour
winner since Eun-Hee Ji at 36 in the 2022 T-Mobile Match Play.
“For me age is just a number,” Ciganda said. “I don’t feel as fresh
as when I was 24, but I still feel I can compete and I can win out
here. I love playing. I love Thursday to Sundays. I love
competition.”
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