NEWS. Can Carlota Ciganda top the ISPS Handa Order of Merit in Tenerife?

Spanish rookie Carlota Ciganda needs a top 18 finish at the Tenerife Open de España Femenino this week to surpass Julieta Granada of Paraguay as the new leader of the Ladies European Tour’s ISPS Handa Order of Merit.

Granada moved into pole position with a seventh place finish at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, but is not playing in Spain, opening the door for Ciganda, who moved up to second with a tie for 17th last week at Royal Liverpool.

The 22-year-old from Pamplona will be amongst the favourites at Golf Las Américas, where last year she finished equal second behind Becky Brewerton in a non-official LET matchplay event.

Ciganda has a strong record in Spain and won the Murcia Ladies Open on the LET Access Series in 2011. She also made several appearances in LET tournaments as an amateur, finishing eighth at the 2007 Open de España and third in the 2008 Tenerife Ladies Open.