Lee-Anne Pace closed out the Open de España to claim her second Ladies European Tour victory this season and returned to the top of the ISPS HANDA Order of Merit.

The 32-year-old South African, who won in Turkey two months previously, collected her seventh win on Tour, with a final round of 71 at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

The 2010 LET money list winner started the final round tied for the lead with Frenchwoman Celine Herbin but quickly took control of the championship with four birdies in her first seven holes.

Although she had built a four stroke lead, the drama increased after she took a double bogey on the 17th, reducing her lead to one with a hole to play.

A regulation par four on the final hole was enough for Pace to earn a one shot victory over Mikaela Parmlid of Sweden and take the first prize of €52,500 with a 72-hole total of 275, 13-under-par. Joanna Klatten of France shot a level par 72 to end on nine-under-par in solo third.

As is the usual custom on the LET, fellow professional golfers, including Anne-Lise Caudal, Sophie Sandolo and Ashleigh Simon, ran onto the green and poured the champion in water, which was appropriate on this occasion, given the hot and sticky climate, in 34C.

Off the Australians in the field, Rebecca Artis is the leading Australian at tied 16th followed by Stacey Keating at tied 27th, Alison Whitaker and Bree Arthur at tied 46th and Nikki Campbell at tied 63rd.