Ana Peláez dominates the Birdie Challenge and wins the Santander Golf Tour Castellón.
Caption: Ana Peláez poses with the winner’s trophy on the 18th hole at Mediterráneo Golf.
The Málaga native posts a solid -11 to claim the title at Mediterráneo Golf, with Amaia Latorre (-9) finishing second and Miriam Ayora (-8) completing the podium.
África Oliva, the tournament’s best amateur, finishes tied for tenth at -6 after a highly valuable week of learning on home soil.
The Santander Golf Tour 2026 has crowned its first champion of the season at Mediterráneo Golf, where Ana Peláez confirmed her lead with an outstanding performance to secure victory with a total score of -11 in the Birdie Challenge format.
The Málaga native, Spanish champion in 2024 and 2025, started the final round in first place in the featured group alongside Nuria Iturrioz and María Villanueva, in a round that began with maximum parity in the early stages.
Peláez did not find her best form on the greens during the first round, managing just one birdie on the 5th hole, which allowed her closest challengers to stay within reach. At one point, the gap was just two shots, with Amaia Latorre and Elisa Orduna sitting at -6 and applying pressure from behind. However, the Málaga player showed great mental strength throughout, maintaining control despite not capitalizing on several clear opportunities, particularly on the par fives.
At the end of the round, Peláez reflected on her victory: “It feels really good to win, especially this week. When I saw the format was Birdie Challenge, I took it almost as a personal challenge, because I had been struggling to make birdies. It has helped me a lot to work on my mindset and to observe things I can later apply in regular play.”
She also highlighted the importance of her preparation: “I wasn’t able to travel to Australia on the European Tour, but it gave me time to train calmly at home. It’s been a very structured few weeks, and coming here before starting the European Tour swing has been very positive.”
Regarding her final round, Peláez acknowledged some difficult moments: “I had some frustration, especially on par fives where I reached the green and ended up three-putting, but I managed to move on quickly. Staying calm and trusting that something good can happen on any hole was key.”
Latorre recorded birdies on holes 4, 11, 13, and 17 in a constant effort to close the gap. The defending champion of last year’s event held in the Valencian Community at Parador de El Saler Golf Club came close to repeating her victory at a venue she knows well.
Third place went to Miriam Ayora, who completed a strong week with a total of -8 after a solid final round of -4, consistently staying among the top contenders.
In fourth place at -7 was a group of six players: María Villanueva, Nuria Iturrioz, Elisa Orduna, Emma Lundgren, Elena Melich, and Teresa Díez Moliner, in a tightly contested leaderboard at the top.
It was not the best day for Nuria Iturrioz, who despite showing a high level from tee to green, was unable to translate that performance onto the greens, missing several clear birdie opportunities that kept her out of the title fight.
In the amateur category, África Oliva was the top finisher, ending tied for tenth at -6. The Sergio García Golf Academy player completed a very positive week, proving her ability to compete in a professional environment and leaving a strong impression on home soil.
Following this opening event of the calendar, the Santander Golf Tour will move on to Golf Xaz (A Coruña), where the second tournament of the circuit will take place from May 13 to 14.
About Mediterráneo Golf
Mediterráneo Golf, located in Borriol in the province of Castellón, is one of the most iconic courses in Spanish golf and a benchmark for high performance, closely linked to the development of major international figures such as Sergio García. Designed by Ramón Espinosa, the course features a technical and demanding layout combining narrow fairways, well-protected greens, and established Mediterranean vegetation that comes into play on many holes. Its balanced and strategic design rewards accuracy off the tee and control in the short game, offering a complete test for amateurs and professionals alike.
About the Santander Golf Tour
The Santander Golf Tour is Banco Santander’s firm commitment to women’s professional golf and celebrates its eleventh season in 2026. With eight tournaments across Spain—some included in higher-level circuits such as LETAS—it is supported by Banco Santander and Santander Private Banking as main sponsors, alongside Carmignac and Santander Seguros. Turismo y Planificación Costa del Sol, Bodegas Homenaje, Mahou, and PING also act as co-sponsors. The Royal Spanish Golf Federation, the Valencian Golf Federation, and other regional federations provide essential additional support for the organization of the tour.
For more information:
Eric Centella
Press Officer – Santander Golf Tour
eric@deporteandbusiness.com