- Team Tamburlini storm to record-breaking 10 shot victory in Saudi Arabia
- Chiara Tamburlini becomes first captain to win back-to-back Team events
- Slovenia’s Pia Babnik leads Individual competition on -14
Team Tamburlini triumphed on a historic day at the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Riyadh as they stormed to a record-breaking 10 shot victory on 43-under par.
Starting the day six shots clear at Riyadh Golf Club, Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini, France’s Anne-Charlotte Mora, England’s Mimi Rhodes and amateur Tenniel Chun continued their birdie fest on Friday combining for a score of 20-under par to achieve the biggest winning margin in Aramco Team Series history.
In the process, Tamburlini becomes the first captain to win back-to-back Aramco Team Series events after her triumph last month in Shenzhen. Her squad also tied the low 36-hole scoring record matching Team Ciganda’s tally from last year.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without an incredible team,” Tamburlini said, a three-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner in 2024. “We had good momentum going from the first hole onwards. We had so much fun. I know I’ve had some success in this format before and I just love it so much. I loved playing team events in college and I always love playing for Swiss golf. To be in a team is so fun.”
Rhodes, making her LET debut this week after several success in 2024, said, “It feels unreal. A dream come true. I couldn’t be with better people and better teammates. It was so much fun. Lots of fist-pumping. It didn’t even feel like I was playing individually. I’m so proud of myself and the team.”
While Mora, who fired a 67 (-5) on Friday, added: “I’m really happy I got to make some putts today. They made a lot too and our amateur was great! We had a lot of fun.”
In the Individual event, Slovenia’s Pia Babnik continued her revitalising season posting a round of 65 (-7) to move two shots clear in Riyadh with 18 holes remaining.
Tied at the top prior to the start of play, the Olympian went bogey-free once again carding seven birdies to move into the outright lead on her own. Babnik won this event in 2021 and is now closing in on a third LET title.
“I hit all 18 greens today so I had 18 good looks at birdie!” Babnik said. “I made seven of them so it was great. I’ve been working hard so I’m really happy to see this [performance]. I’m super excited for tomorrow. This is what I have been working for, to be in this position. I’ll try to do the same tomorrow.”
Standing in her way on 12-under-par is England’s Charley Hull. The Solheim Cup star had another excellent day in Saudi Arabia carding five birdies on her back-nine – the front-nine where she went out in 30 (-6) yesterday – to sneak back up the leaderboard late into the day with a round of 67 (-5).
“It’s a fun golf course to play,” Hull said, chasing a first victory since 2022. “I like chasing, it’s more fun. I think I’m playing with Pia [Babnik] tomorrow who is leading so I’m sure I’ll get a rough idea of what I need to do. I’m just going to try and play lights out. Two years isn’t that long but of course you always want to win. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
In a tie for third on 11-under par are Spanish friends Fatima Fernandez Cano and Luna Sobron Galmes. The former had her best ever day on the LET carding a round of the year 62 (-10) which included 10 superb birdies and no dropped shots.
Cano, a winner on the Epson Tour in 2024, also had a long birdie attempt on 18 to tie the 18-hole record on the LET. Her effort just missed the hole left.
Sobron meanwhile had a steady day in Riyadh posting four birdies including a fantastic closing red number on the 18th after she stiffed her approach. She sits three back as she chases a maiden LET win – just like her former amateur teammate Cano.
Three players share fifth on 10-under par, a trio which includes Germany’s Helen Briem, France’s Nastasia Nadaud and Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup. New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori made our second hole-in-one of the week on Friday acing the par-3 17th from 162 yards.
With the Team competition now done and dusted, the third and final round of Aramco Team Series – Riyadh gets underway on Saturday morning.
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