Mexico’s Alejandra Llaneza clinched her seventh professional victory after swiftly defeating the Netherland’s Lauren Holmey and Australia’s Justice Bosio in a one-hole playoff.
In regulation play, the 36-year-old jumped 20 places up the leaderboard after carding a phenomenal round of 64(-8) to find herself in a three way play off.
A birdie on the 18th was all it took for the Mexican to clinch the trophy and make a successful comeback after quitting tournament golf for the past two years.
Speaking about what it means to win, Llaneza said: “It means so much. It’s hard to explain in a short period of time, but, for a while, I thought I was going to stop competing and I took a break from entering tournaments, so I wanted to make my comeback in a different place. I wanted to come try the European circuit.
“This win was kind of unexpected, but I’m so excited to get back into it.”
Llaneza was an LPGA member from 2013 to 2017 and competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics for Mexico.
Llaneza’s last victory came in 2019 on the Epson Tour.
“All day I felt like I was in a good rhythm with my game, and I felt comfortable, and I had some time to kind of disconnect, regroup, do some breathing, stretching and get ready for the playoffs. So, I think that that helped me to be calm. And having my friends around definitely helped a lot.”
Whilst playing under the Mexican flag, Spain is a home from home and Llaneza certainly had the crowd’s support during the playoff.
“So, I have some Spanish descent, so, in a way, I do feel connected to Spain.
“Having my friend Fernanda from Mexico here has been, huge support as well. And having all the girls from Spain and the crowd cheering me on was very lovely to hear.”
Llaneza made her LETAS debut at the Super Bock Ladies Open, where she finished 24th and one week later she made the cut at the LET’s Dutch Ladies Open where she finished 56th.
“To celebrate we will go out for dinner in Madrid and, have fun together. I’m going to keep playing on LETAS and I want to get my full card for the LET and enjoying my time on LETAS as well.”
Netherland’s Lauren Holmey and Australia’s Justice Bosio finished second whilst Iceland’s Andrea Bergsdottir finished solo fourth on eight-under-par.
One shot back, France’s Charlotte Liautier had an exceptional final round of five-under-par to finish fifth.
England’s Charlotte Heath finished sixth on six-under-par whilst her compatriot Rosie Belsham finished seventh.
LETAS now heads to France to another returning event, the Montauban Ladies Open starting on Friday 6th June.
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