Former ASU golfer Carlota Ciganda dominated in college, but is still getting used to the pros.
The first ever back-to-back Pac-10 Women’s Golf Champion missed the cut for the second stage of LPGA qualifying school by one stroke. Though disappointed, the three-year Sun Devil is still determined and will try her luck in the Ladies European Tour qualifying.
Ciganda came to ASU from Pamplona, Spain and made her mark immediately by winning two tournaments on the 2009 National Championship team.
Throughout her career as a Sun Devil she maintained her status as one of the best players in collegiate golf.
After leaving the team to turn professional during the summer, Ciganda returned to Tempe to meet her former teammates and prepare her game in a familiar environment.
“For me, it’s like my second home,” Ciganda said. “I have great memories. I really like this place because it is perfect to practice. The weather is unbelievable. The coaches are always really nice and seeing the team is also nice.”
Ciganda was able to even stay with her former roommate senior Giulia Molinaro, who has done well so far this fall, taking over the reins as the top golfer on the team.
Molinaro has finished in the top 15 in every tournament so far this semester.
Both golfers had to endure a tough stretch in 2010-11 in which the team consisted of only Ciganda and Molinaro.
With only two players, the team couldn’t compete in any tournaments that fall and had to play eight in the spring to qualify for the postseason. Fortunately four new freshmen came to the team in January 2011 and were able to help the team to a productive season.
“When I came here, I really wanted it to be for four years, because I felt getting an education and a degree was really important,” Ciganda said. “When I left (for the summer) in May in my sophomore year, we still had four on the team. But then both Jaclyn Sweeney and Jennifer Johnson decided to turn pro. So then coming here with Giulia, I mean at least I was with her, because she is my best friend and being with her was unbelievable. But going to tournaments and not having a team, playing as an individual, was really hard.”
It was hard on the team as a whole, as what looked to be one of the most talented golf teams in ASU history dissolved. Since her teammates had left, Ciganda struggled with keeping the same motivation she had in previous years and finally decided it was time to move forward with her golf career.
“Staying here I though that my golf wasn’t going to improve that much,” Ciganda said. “I try to always say the truth and say what I think. So I went to (coach Melissa Luellen) and told her that I wanted to leave, that I thought I was ready to turn pro and she was a little bit shocked. (She told me) if you could stay at least one more semester it would be great for the team.
“Coach has always been really nice to me and I really like her. She has taught me so many things. I think she is a great coach, both Missy and her. In the end everything worked out because they were just wishing me the best.”
Luellen said that Ciganda went about leaving college in the right way, letting the coaches know where she stood early enough so she could prepare the team for the departure of one of its best players.
“We love Carlota and miss her a lot,” Luellen said, “When she comes back its great. She is a hard worker that has a great attitude, and a friend.
“We talked early on so it really wasn’t much of a surprise. She allowed me time to know that she was not coming back in order to give me time to recruit with her scholarship. She absolutely went about it in the most professional way.”
Reach the reporter at jjmckelv@asu.edu
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