Carla Bernat Escuder is a proven winner at some of the world’s best golf courses. Now she has her first professional Epson Tour win to tout.
The 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion closed with a bogey-free 8-under 64 on Monday morning to win the 2026 Guardian Championship by two shots. Michelle Zhang finished runner-up at 14 under, and Kaleiya Romero, who had shared the 36-hole lead, closed with a 1-over 71 to finish third at 12 under.
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Bernat Escuder never finished a full 18 holes in one sitting all week, with rain and darkness suspending play in all three rounds, but closed the tournament by reeling off her third straight round in the 60s.
Carla Bernat Escuder won the 2026 Guardian Championship on Monday morning
“It feels very good, very satisfying,” Bernat Escuder said. “I’ve been pretty stressed the last few months just because I wanted to secure my card, and obviously the closer it got to the end, the harder it was … performing and not putting pressure on myself.”
Bernat Escuder credited deleting Instagram to help her focus and break through at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill, Senator Course, in Prattville, Alabama. She won $37,500 for her victory and moves to fourth in the Race for the Card rankings.
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Only two events remain on the 2026 Epson Tour schedule, including the finale at Indian Wells in California.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Former ANWA champion earns first Epson Tour win at Guardian Championship
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