Sweden’s Andrea Lignell produced a sensational final round performance to win the Iberdrola Calatayud Ladies Open, carding rounds of 69, 67, and 69 to secure her Ladies European Tour (LET) card for the 2026 season and her second professional win.
Lignell entered the event knowing only a win would be enough to break into the top seven on the LETAS rankings and claim one of seven cards.
“Right now, I’m actually kind of lost for words,” said an emotional Lignell, “This was the goal coming here this week knowing that I probably needed to win. But I felt like my game was in a pretty good place coming into this week already, so I knew I at least had a chance.”
Lignell opened her final round with a birdie on the first hole, then fell back from the frontrunners with two early bogeys on holes two and six. Her resilience paid off with a hot stretch that included birdies on eight, 12, 13, and 15. The Swede finished two strokes clear.
“I’m just beyond excited. This was the goal of mine for the whole year.
“I had a tough start to the season, so I’m just really happy I did it this way.”
After narrowly missing out on earning her LET card in 2024, when she finished 10th on the rankings, Lignell’s breakthrough wins also served as personal redemption.
“I feel a bit relieved. Obviously as I missed out by a few last year when there were eight cards on the line, and now seven this year.
“I’m just really proud of myself for how I handled this whole week. I didn’t start off the best today, so I’m really proud of how I fought back.”
After the win, her first call was to her boyfriend, currently in China.
“He’s about to go to bed, so I had to call him before. He said: “I knew you could do it. He’s my biggest supporter. He always believed in me, even when I didn’t.”
Lignell plans to celebrate the victory in Madrid with her fellow players.
“We’re going out for dinner and will probably have a few drinks tonight. Now a few more than planned.
“I have a 6 a.m. flight, but there will be some celebrations.”
With the win, Andrea Lignell secures her second win of the season, after she won the Swedish Strokeplay by Dormy Future Stars in her home country.
Germany’s Hanna Tauber, who had her first experience of playing in the final group finished second on nine-under-par after rounds of 67, 68 and 72. Tauber also secures a spot at final qualifying.
LETAS Order of Merit winner Gemma Clews finished solo third on seven-under-par to cap off an amazing season.
Five players tied for fourth on six-under-par. These included two Swedes: Corinne Viden and Louisa Carlbom alongside Finland’s Anna Backman and England’s Charlotte Heath.
The seven players who earned LET cards celebrated in style at the end of play. These were England’s Gemma Clews, Mexico’s Fernanda Lira, Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer, Czechia’s Patricie Mackova, Sweden’s Andrea Lignell, England’s Charlotte Heath and Denmark’s Amalie Leth-Nissen.
