England’s Mimi Rhodes clinched her first Ladies European Tour title in an impressive display, achieving this milestone in just her fourth event as a full-time member. She secured victory at the Ford Women’s NSW Open held in Wollongong, Australia, finishing the tournament with a remarkable two-shot win.
At only 23 years of age, Rhodes demonstrated exceptional skill and composure under pressure. In her final round, she carded a bogey-free score of two-under par, totaling a 69. Highlights of her round included birdies on the second and fourth holes, complemented seamlessly by 16 pars to bring her final score to an impressive 17-under for the tournament.
What made her performance even more remarkable was her record-setting second round, where she shot a breathtaking nine-under 62. This round set a new course record and showcased her remarkable ability to navigate the course with ten birdies, including three consecutive gains twice during her round, mitigated only by a solitary bogey. Such a performance not only underlines her talent but also indicates a bright future for this young golfer.
With this victory, Rhodes adds another title to an already impressive resume filled with numerous amateur achievements. She has previously triumphed in prestigious events such as the Curtis Cup, the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship, and the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship. Her stellar performance in the NSW Open has catapulted her to third place on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, trailing only compatriot Cara Gainer and Belgium’s talented Manon De Roey.
Reflecting on her journey, Rhodes expressed her excitement and disbelief at her victory, stating, “I’m honestly still in shock, but I’m so happy. I’ve worked really hard for this.” After experiencing the tough setback of missing the cut at the prior Australian Women’s Classic, where De Roey emerged victorious, she acknowledged the challenges she faced and how her recent swing adjustments had positively influenced her play. “I had a difficult week last week, I went through a swing change and it obviously worked! I’m just really happy,” she remarked.
Rhodes recalled the pressure of competing during the final stages of the tournament, especially when the tension rose. “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,” she shared, illustrating the mental fortitude required in professional sports.
To celebrate her groundbreaking victory, Rhodes planned to spend quality time with family and friends in Sydney. When asked how she would mark the occasion, she humorously suggested, “Maybe we’ll have some champagne!”
In the final standings of the tournament, Italy’s Alessandra Fanali and local player Kirsten Rudgeley found themselves tied for second place. Fanali nearly closed the gap on Rhodes by birdieing the par-four 17th hole, but a misstep on the challenging par-five 18th forced her to take a drop after an errant tee shot. Ultimately, she settled for a bogey on the 18th, resulting in a total score of 15-under–one shot ahead of Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova, who took fourth place.
Adding to the excitement of the event, Switzerland’s Kim Metraux achieved a hole-in-one on the par-three 10th hole, finishing with a share of fifth place at seven-under. She was joined in that position by Spanish golfers Blanca Fernandez and Nuria Iturrioz, as well as Sweden’s Moa Folke.
With the conclusion of this thrilling tournament, the Ladies European Tour will now enjoy a week off before resuming their season in South Africa with the upcoming Joburg Ladies Open, scheduled for April 3. The anticipation for the next events continues to build as players like Rhodes look to build on their successes and make their mark in women’s golf.
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