English rookie Mimi Rhodes claimed a maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) title after earning a two-shot victory at the Ford Women’s NSW Open in Wollongong, Australia.
The 23-year-old started the final round with a one-shot lead, closely followed by Italy’s Alessandra Fanali and Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley. But neither Fanali nor Rudgeley could overcome the rookie who played superbly from the first hole on Sunday. She birdied the 2nd and 4th, then carded 14 straight pars afterwards, finishing with a bogey-free final-round 69 (-2) and ending the week on 17 under.
Fanali threatened to pressure Rhodes’ lead with a birdie on the par-3 17th to come within one shot before the 18th, but pulled her tee-shot on the final hole and took a penalty drop as her chances of victory fell away. The Italian went onto finish the round with a 70, tying for second with Rudgeley at 15 under.
For Rhodes, the victory certainly came as a shock after missing the cut at last week’s Australian Women’s Classic. But she thrived this week, also shooting the course record in the second round, with a superb 9-under 62. Impressively, this was only the Englishwoman’s fourth event as a full LET member.
“I’m honestly still in shock, but I’m so happy,” said Rhodes afterwards. “I’ve worked really hard for this.
“I had a difficult week last week [missing the cut in Coffs Harbour], I went through a swing change and it obviously worked! I’m just really happy.”
“I was fine on the front nine but when it started to get tight I got a bit stressed. I kept breathing and tried to remain focused. It’s difficult in those situations but I’m just really glad I got it done.
“To celebrate I’m spending the night with family and friends in Sydney. Maybe we’ll have some champagne!”
Sara Kouskova of Czech Republic took fourth, just a shot adrift of Fanali and Rudgeley while Spanish duo Blanca Fernandez and Nuria Iturrioz, Sweden’s Moa Folke, and Switzerland’s Kim Metraux shared fifth place. The Swiss player had sunk a hole-in-one on the par-three 10th on her way to ending 11 under.
What is the next event?
The next event on the Ladies European Tour schedule is the Joburg Ladies Open taking place between 3-6 April at Modderfontein Golf Club in South Africa.