It’s already been a heck of a year for Englishwoman Mimi Rhodes, but she has an opportunity to make the 2025 season positively unforgettable this week at the Final Qualifying Stage of the LPGA Qualifying Series.
Rhodes competed as a rookie on the Ladies European Tour this year, having turned professional last September and earned LET status via that circuit’s Qualifying School. She claimed three victories in her inaugural campaign, winning in back-to-back weeks at the Ford Women’s NSW Open and the Joburg Ladies Open early in 2025 and then triumphing again at the Dutch Ladies Open in May.
That consistent excellence saw the 23-year-old secure LET Rookie of the Year honours and finish second in the Order of Merit behind Singapore’s Shannon Tan, an impressive performance from such a young talent and one that qualified Rhodes to compete in the last leg of LPGA Q-Series at Magnolia Grove – RTJ Golf Trail in Mobile, Ala.
She first teed it up in Final Qualifying in 2024, withdrawing from the event before completing five rounds of play on the Crossings and Falls Courses that are part of the 36-hole host facility. This year’s edition of the tournament saw Rhodes get off to a sluggish start on Friday, as she opened with a 4-over 75 on the Falls Course, making five bogeys and just one birdie in the rain-delayed first round.
The former Wake Forest University Demon Deacon recovered a bit with a 4-under 68 in round two, tallying one bogey and five birdies on the Crossings Course, four of which came consecutively from Nos. 4 to 7. But Rhodes wound up carding her lowest score of the week in the third round, firing a 5-under 66 on the Falls Course that saw her notch one bogey, four birdies and a hole-out eagle on the par-5 10th hole.
Her 66 ultimately propelled Rhodes inside the top 25 and ties on the leaderboard through 54 holes, putting her among the group of athletes who will ultimately earn an LPGA Tour card when play concludes at Magnolia Grove.
Because of the inclement weather that has plagued Lower Alabama and caused numerous tournament delays this week, the LPGA elected to shorten Final Qualifying to 72 holes on Sunday, reducing it from the 90 holes that were originally scheduled to be completed.
And while it’s been a long, wet, patience-testing type of week for everyone in the field, Rhodes has done her best to take the challenges in stride and make the most of her second opportunity to secure LPGA Tour membership for the 2026 season.
“It was similar to this last year, and it’s kind of what we were expecting the whole week,” Rhodes said when asked about her mindset before beginning round four on Monday afternoon. “It’s trying to stay positive and trying to get as many holes in as we can and staying focused when we can and staying present. I think it’s so hard to stay present out there, but I think I did a good job of it today, and hopefully, I can do it this afternoon as well.”
Round four began on Monday afternoon and was suspended due to darkness at 4:15 p.m. local time. Athletes will finish play on Tuesday, Dec. 9, and those who find themselves within the top 25 and ties at the end of 72 holes will secure LPGA Tour status for next year.
Rhodes made it through 12 holes of her final round and is currently sitting at even par after making four birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey on the par-4 9th hole on the Crossings Course.
Rhodes will restart her fourth round in a tie for 18th at 5-under overall on Tuesday at 8 a.m. local time and will be working to once again dig deep and finish strong as she tries to add her name to the list of rookies who will be teeing it up on the LPGA Tour for the very first time in 2026.
