Latest news with #AustralianWomen'sClassic
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rhodes was 'just trying to make cut' in maiden win
"I was just trying to focus on making the cut," says golfer Mimi Rhodes, fresh from claiming her first victory on the Ladies European 23-year-old showed great composure to produce a bogey-free final round to win by two shots at this month's Women's NSW Open in Australia."I wasn't expecting any of it," she told BBC Radio Somerset."It all feels like a bit of a dream and a bit of a blur. Being in Australia, a new country, it was all just an unbelievable experience."To have got my first LET win there, it's just the cherry on top."Competing on the tour for just the fourth time in her career, the rookie stunned by hitting a course record nine-under 62 to take a share of the lead after two led by one shot heading into the final round in Wollongong, with a two-under score of 69 leading her to finish on 17 win over Australia's Kirsten Rudgeley and Italy's Alessandra Fanali followed missing the cut at the Australian Women's Classic the previous week."It's kind of weird how that happens in golf. Going from a missed cut and then suddenly a nine under," Rhodes said."That day was some of the best golf that I have played in my life. Every putt just kept rolling in. The Open on the horizon Having enjoyed some time celebrating the victory, Rhodes' attention now turns to the new doors that have opened for her, including a place at The Open."I can pretty much get into every event except for the US Open and The Evian [Championship], but there's still a lot of golf to be played," she said."It's a bit of a shock to know that I can now play in all of those events in my first year."I had no idea that I'd get into the British Open. My mum did, but she never told me, obviously, until I won."This summer's event will be played at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club on the south coast of Wales from 31 July to 3 August, which is not all that far from Rhodes' hometown of Taunton. Somerset."I'm for sure going to have a lot of family coming to support. It's going to be really special," said and her sister Patience were introduced to golf by their grandmother Susan at a young age. They were regular visitors to Somerset's Burnham and Barrow Golf Club, from where their progress is still followed."There are quite a few people who come up to me and remember me through my grandparents," she said."It's really lovely that they are supporting me and watching me from there." Two sisters following their dreams After returning to Somerset, Rhodes' parents joked that they could not believe that the victorious golfer that they had been watching on television was sat in their rookie is looking to keep her head on the ground, but certainly is not short of aspiration, with next year's Solheim Cup at the back of her mind."I obviously do think about it because it's one of my goals as well as all of the majors," she said."I was sat next to the LET director on the plane back and he mentioned to me about the Solheim Cup and showed me the table of points and I'm actually quite high up. "The Solheim Cup, the Olympics, it's all on everyone's bucket list, but I'm not really going to put too much pressure on myself."The one thing that would make the dream of playing a major championship even sweeter, would be to do it together with her younger sister."It's a long career, I've got a lot of a lot of time to do it and hopefully when Patience comes into the into the pro ranks, we can do it together," Rhodes said."She's got this year and then two more years [at university]."Hopefully she doesn't beat me too many times."
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
England's Rhodes holds nerve to claim maiden LET victory
Women's NSW Open: Final leaderboard -17 M Rhodes (Eng); -15 K Rudgeley (Aus), A Fanali (Ita); -14 S Kouskova (Cze); -11 K Metraux (Swi), B Fernandez (Spa), M Folke (Swe), N Iturrioz (Spa) Selected others: -7 D Harry (Wal), A Foster (Ire); -6 C Gainer (Eng); -3 K Henry (Sco), A Fuller (Eng); -2 H Screen (Eng), L Walsh (Ire) England's Mimi Rhodes held her nerve to claim her first Ladies European Tour victory at the Women's NSW Open in Australia. The 23-year-old rookie led by one heading into the final round in Wollongong and produced a composed final day to beat Australia's Kirsten Rudgeley and Italy's Alessandra Fanali by two shots. Competing in just her fourth event as a full LET member, Rhodes went bogey free on Sunday, carding a two-under 69 to finish on 17 under. "I'm honestly still in shock, but I'm so happy," she said. "I've worked really hard for this." Victory came a week after Rhodes missed the cut at the Australian Women's Classic in Coffs Harbour. After heading down the New South Wales coast to Wollongong, she fired a course record on Friday, hitting a nine-under 62 to take a share of the lead with Sara Kouskova. During Saturday's round of 68, Rhodes gained the outright lead and did not relinquish it on the final day. After birdies at the second and fourth holes, Rhodes carded 14 straight pars as Rudgeley and Fanali put the pressure on. Home favourite Rudgeley had five birdies en route to a three-under 68 while Fanali's third birdie of the day on the par-3 17th put her one off the lead. But the Italian pulled her tee shot on the closing par-five 18th, forcing her to take a penalty drop, allowing Rhodes the comfort of two-putting to secure victory. "I had a difficult week last week - I went through a swing change and it obviously worked," added Rhodes, who said she would celebrate with family and friends in Sydney. "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."
BBC News
23-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
England's Rhodes holds nerve to claim maiden LET victory
Women's NSW Open: Final leaderboard-17 M Rhodes (Eng); -15 K Rudgeley (Aus), A Fanali (Ita); -14 S Kouskova (Cze); -11 K Metraux (Swi), B Fernandez (Spa), M Folke (Swe), N Iturrioz (Spa)Selected others: -7 D Harry (Wal), A Foster (Ire); -6 C Gainer (Eng); -3 K Henry (Sco), A Fuller (Eng); -2 H Screen (Eng), L Walsh (Ire) England's Mimi Rhodes held her nerve to claim her first Ladies European Tour victory at the Women's NSW Open in 23-year-old rookie led by one heading into the final round in Wollongong and produced a composed final day to beat Australia's Kirsten Rudgeley and Italy's Alessandra Fanali by two in just her fourth event as a full LET member, Rhodes went bogey free on Sunday, carding a two-under 69 to finish on 17 under."I'm honestly still in shock, but I'm so happy," she said. "I've worked really hard for this."Victory came a week after Rhodes missed the cut at the Australian Women's Classic in Coffs heading down the New South Wales coast to Wollongong, she fired a course record on Friday, hitting a nine-under 62 to take a share of the lead with Sara Saturday's round of 68, Rhodes gained the outright lead and did not relinquish it on the final birdies at the second and fourth holes, Rhodes carded 14 straight pars as Rudgeley and Fanali put the pressure favourite Rudgeley had five birdies en route to a three-under 68 while Fanali's third birdie of the day on the par-3 17th put her one off the the Italian pulled her tee shot on the closing par-five 18th, forcing her to take a penalty drop, allowing Rhodes the comfort of two-putting to secure victory."I had a difficult week last week - I went through a swing change and it obviously worked," added Rhodes, who said she would celebrate with family and friends in Sydney."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."
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Belgian golfer de Roey salutes in Aust Women's Classic
Belgian Manon de Roey has held her nerve in a war of attrition to claim her second WPGA Tour of Australasia title at the Australian Women's Classic at Coffs Harbour. Five years after her win at the Moss Vale Pro-Am, de Roey's round of one-under 69 and nine-under total was enough to clinch victory by a stroke from England's Cara Gainer (68). Teenaged Thai phenomenon Cholcheva Wongras (70) snared third with Sarah Kemp (74) the leading Australian in a tie for fourth. De Roey, 33, clinched the title on the final hole when she hit a gap wedge to eight feet and drained the birdie putt. Clutch finish! Manon De Roey birdies 18 to clinch her third LET victory 🏆#AusWomensClassic — Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) March 16, 2025 "I like to look at the leaderboards. I want to know what I have to do," she said. "I asked on 15 what the leaderboard was and then on 18 before my putt I also checked. "It was downhill, down-grain so I wanted to know that I had to just tap it there or make it." Trailing Kemp (75) by two strokes at the start of the final round, de Roey bounced back from two early bogeys to play the steadiest hand down the stretch. Kemp's tie for fourth was beyond her wildest expectations given the compound fracture she suffered to her right leg just seven months ago. Sarah Kemp you are a champion! 💪What a week for the Aussie 👏👏 — WPGA Tour of Australasia (@WPGATour) March 16, 2025 "Honestly, the goal was just to see if I could make the cut so it's exceeded all of my non-expectations," said the Australian, who will back up for next week's Women's NSW Open at Wollongong Golf Club. "I'd already won this week. I was able to finish the tournament and I proved clearly I can still play golf and that's the two main objectives. "It makes me feel really good now going back into the States." Australian LPGA Tour star Grace Kim finished strongly with a 67 to claim a share of sixth spot.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kemp homes in on amazing comeback win at Coffs Harbour
Sarah Kemp is on the verge of an extraordinary comeback triumph at the Australian Women's Classic just months after she feared her career could be over, threatened by a freak injury. Sydney's experienced LPGA stalwart could hardly believe she was leading the field by two going into the final round of the Ladies European Tour event after shooting a brilliant eight-under par 62 at at Coffs Harbour on Saturday's 'moving day'. Back in action seven months since breaking her tibia and fibula in a freak golf cart accident, Kemp, who had needed surgery after the compound fracture, beamed: "I had absolutely no expectations here, so I'm really shocked!" New leader on the block 🇦🇺Have a day, Sarah Kemp! 🔥 #AusWomensClassic — Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) March 15, 2025 The 39-year-old US-based Kemp, a 12-time tournament winner, is on 10 under after two rounds of the 54-hole event, two ahead of Belgium's Manon De Roey and Wales' Darcey Harry. "Honestly, the goal was to just finish this week. With my leg injury, having had a compound leg fracture seven months ago, I've now got some screws in there. So there's a bit of pain, especially bending down," said Kemp. "The goal was to just get back into tournament mode and be able to walk 18 holes." Kemp holed long ones on the 6th, 11th, and 16th holes, and attributed her putting prowess to weeks of practice on a mat at home as she underwent her recovery after the operation. "I'm sure it played a big help out there today, but I'm still shocked," said Kemp, who's back in Australia aiming for her first triumph in six years. She's taken inspiration in her comeback from Tiger Woods' fightback from his car accident, even while admitting that the 15-time major winner's battle has been much tougher than hers. "Seeing how he's gone about his recovery, which is 10 times worse, just made me think, 'Oh my God, am I going to limp for the rest of my life? Will I ever be able to play? Will I get my strength back'," said Kemp, before the tournament started. Back from a broken leg and into the outright lead! Sarah Kemp is on a mission at home 🇦🇺#AusWomensClassic — Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) March 15, 2025 "The first two months there was a lot of tears, a lot of sleepless nights." Struggling when she took her first steps again on crutches 11 weeks after the accident, Kemp wondered if it might prove too much to get her career back on track. "I was depressed. I thought that was it," she said. "I remember bawling my eyes out as soon as I could drop the crutches. "The gratitude of going back and just being able to walk … I feel like I took that for granted for my whole life. "I'm just honestly so happy to be playing golf, that's all. Just being able to compete again and to come back and almost treat these as a little bit of a warm-up before I go back to the LPGA."
