Rising star Mimi Rhodes just pulled off something incredible – winning her first Ladies European Tour title in only her fourth tournament as a pro.
The 23-year-old English golfer dominated the Ford Women’s NSW Open in Australia, finishing two shots clear of the field at 17-under par.
It’s been a whirlwind few months for Rhodes. She only turned pro last September after helping Great Britain and Ireland win the Curtis Cup. Since then, she’s been on fire.
She quickly nabbed her first win on the developmental tour and earned her full European Tour card through qualifying school. Now this.
“I’m honestly still in shock,” Rhodes said after her win at Wollongong Golf Club. “I’ve worked really hard for this.”
The victory didn’t come easy. Despite setting a course record with a blistering 62 on Friday, Rhodes had to battle nerves down the stretch on Sunday.
She made 14 straight pars while Italy’s Alessandra Fanali charged up behind her. The lead was down to just one shot heading to the final hole.
But Fanali cracked under pressure, pulling her drive on 18 and having to take a penalty drop. That sealed the deal for Rhodes, who could safely two-putt her way to victory.
“I was fine on the front nine but when it started to get tight I got a bit stressed,” Rhodes admitted. “I kept breathing and tried to remain focused.”
The win is even more impressive considering Rhodes was struggling just a week ago. She missed the cut at her previous event while working through swing changes.
“It obviously worked!” she laughed. “I’m just really happy.”
Australia’s Kirsten Rudgley and Italy’s Fanali tied for second at 15-under, with Czech player Sara Kouskova alone in fourth.
The tournament had extra excitement when Switzerland’s Kim Metraux made a hole-in-one on the par-3 10th during her final round. She finished tied for fifth at 11-under with three other players.
The Ladies European Tour takes a week off before heading to South Africa in early April for back-to-back events in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
