Mimi Rhodes will take a one shot lead into the final round of the Ford Women’s NSW Open after the rookie carded a bogey-free 68 (-3) on Saturday to move to 15-under par.
Playing alongside Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley and Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova, Rhodes made a steady start at Wollongong Golf Club making par on each of her first eight holes.
Having had several near misses in this spell, the Curtis Cup winner capitalised on her consistent ball-striking posting a birdie at the par-5 9th. Three pars followed before Rhodes rolled in another birdie at the reachable par-5 13th after a great wedge shot in.
“It was really windy at the start so on the tough holes I had to place the ball really nicely on the green,” Rhodes explained, who fired a course record 62 (-9) in round three. “Overall I’m really happy with how I struck the ball. I still played as aggressive as I did yesterday, the putts just didn’t drop. I stayed calm because I knew putts would drop at the end.”
As Alessandra Fanali made a charge in the group ahead – the Italian made seven birdies on Saturday – Rhodes extended her lead to two shots with another birdie at the par-5 16th.
A par finish with the Wollongong crowds watching on would give Rhodes the 68 (-3) and a one shot lead heading into Sunday.
Having had a prolific amateur career, the 23-year-old rookie is chasing a maiden victory on the Ladies European Tour (LET) this week in only her fourth event as a full member.
“I love playing in front of crowds,” Rhodes said, a winner last year on the LET Access Series [LETAS]. “The nerves and the pressure, it’s honestly why we play golf. I had loads of fun out there.
“I would say the pressure is pretty similar [to big amateur events]. There’s so many good players and you never know who might come out and shoot a low score. I’ve learned how to deal with it and I know how to have fun. I’m just going to try and do that tomorrow.
“I’ll do some practice this afternoon, go for dinner with some friends and have an early night. I might for a run tomorrow morning on the beach to clear my head.”
Hot on her heels in second place is Fanali. The 25-year-old Olympian continued where she left off yesterday carding seven birdies for a 64 (-7) – her lowest ever round on the LET. The bogey-free scorecard included a fantastic birdie finish at the par-5 18th.
“I’m really happy!” Fanali said, whose best result on the LET is a runner-up finish at last year’s Magical Kenya Ladies Open. “It was very solid today – a bit windy in the beginning so I just tried to stay patient and stay focused. It worked out really well because I was two-under through five. It was smooth.”
“I enjoy chasing. I stayed calm until the final putt. I feel like I’ve been in this position before so I’m used to it now. My boyfriend and caddie, Guilio, helps a lot. He’s been great this week. Finally I’m back there [at the top] and I’m excited for tomorrow.”
In a tie for third on 12-under par sit Rudgeley and Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz. The latter heated up the putter on Saturday firing six birdies which included a grandstand finish on the 18th. With four victories to her name, Iturrioz is the only LET winner inside the top seven and will have experience on her side tomorrow.
On the advantage, Iturrioz said: “I think experience always helps but when you have a week where you’re feeling it, it doesn’t matter. You never know. I will just try to be up there playing my own game tomorrow.”
Kouskova had a disappointing day at a windy Wollongong carding a 72 (+1) to move back into a tie for fifth on 11-under par. The Olympian is joined by Sweden’s Moa Folke who finished with four straight birdies and five birdies in her last six holes, as well as Spain’s Blanca Fernandez who hit the shot of the day holing out for a two at the par-4 2nd.
The fourth and final round of the Ford Women’s NSW Open gets underway tomorrow morning at 9:10am local time. The leaders will tee off at 11:11am.
Watch live, or all the action from the tournament on our socials – @LETgolf on Instagram and X and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube. #NSWOpenGolf
“The Ford Women’s NSW Open is proudly supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.”
