Ciganda secures triple crown

Last updated: 8th December 2012

Spain's Carlota Ciganda has claimed a unique treble for the 2012 season after winning the Ladies European Tour money list, the Rookie of the Year title and the Players' Player of the Year award.

The 22-year-old secured top spot on the Order of Merit list with a 10th place finish at the Omega Dubai Masters on Saturday to become the first player since Laura Davies in 1985 to claim the money list and rookie award.

"It's an honour to win the ISPS Handa Order of Merit as a rookie and I'm very happy," she said.

"It's a real privilege to follow Laura Davies in achieving this rare double. I played with her a lot this year and I think it was very good for me because I learned so many things. She's so talented and I think she's one of the best players of all time in golf.

"I've won two amazing tournaments in Holland and China and that was great. I've been playing all over and I'm playing and having fun. It's been a very good year. Hopefully I can win many more titles in the future."

World number six Shanshan Feng from China won the tournament by five shots with Dewi Claire Schreefel second and Becky Brewerton and Caroline Masson joint third.

Masson was the only player who could stop Ciganda from topping the Order of Merit, but the Spaniard's 10th place finish meant she had to secure a top two spot to deny her.

She was close to pulling it off at one stage after Ciganda carded a 68 to finish with nine-under-par for the tournament, but a triple bogey on the 12th and bogey at the 17th saw her hopes diminish and she eventually finished with a 71 and a -12 in total.

Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour, said: "We congratulate Carlota on her exceptional season crowned by becoming the first player in 27 years to win the prestigious ISPS Handa Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year titles simultaneously.

"Carlota followed her success as an amateur through from her junior days in Spain to college golf in the United States and now in the professional ranks by gaining victories firstly on the LET Access Series and then twice on the Ladies European Tour. This certainly caps a magnificent year and will go down in the history books as one of the most outstanding achievements of any player in the 34-year history of the Tour."