- Team Kouskova win with a score of 32-under-par
- Spain’s Carlota Ciganda leads by one in the Individual
Team Kouskova secured a one-stroke victory at the Aramco Houston Championship winning with a score of 32-under-par at Golfcrest Country Club.
The quartet of Sara Kouskova, Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen, April Anguarasaranee and Ana Belac began the day in a share of fourth place on 14-under-par.
After making pars on the first two holes, the team got going on the front nine to make the turn in -10 for the day and move into contention.
On their back nine, they continued to make birdies and Thailand’s Angurasaranee rolled in a 24-foot putt at the last to seal victory for Team Kouskova.
This is a third Team victory for Kouskova, who also captained her side to success at the 2025 Aramco Korea Championship earlier this year.
“It’s been another absolutely amazing two days with super players and I have enjoyed it so much,” said the Czech star. “I’m incredibly proud of my team.
“It has been so solid from each and every one of them. We spread out the goods all over, which was important throughout the day. Waiting to see if we’d win was a little rough, I had picked April to play the playoff but I’m happy that she didn’t have to. It’s been great.”
Belac added: “It was really fun! We don’t get to play a lot of team events out there. Every time you get to do something special like that and with players like these is fun and I would love to do it more.”
“It was fun,” said Kibsgaard Nielsen. “We played well the last two days, and it all just came together today. We had a lot of fun, and it was great playing with them. We had a few hard holes coming in on the back nine, but we were cheering on each other and there was a softer vibe. I didn’t know the scores on 18, but we were very calm.”
Angurasaranee explained: “I didn’t know the scores until 18 when I looked at the board and then realised the situation. The highlight was the last putt on 18, which was for birdie. It was quite a straightforward putt, downhill and I nailed it in the middle. I have never played well in the team events, so it’s been a big change this week to have a good result.”
It was a tightly contested leaderboard with Team Rhodes and Team Boutier finishing just one shot behind the winners on 31-under-par; Team Alexander and Team Gainer ended the week in T4 on 30-under with Team De Roey in sixth place.
In the Individual competition, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda fired a round of 64 (-8) on day two to hold a one-shot lead heading into the final day.
The eight-time LET winner began her round with a birdie on 10 before back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14.
Ciganda then rolled in four birdies in a row on 16, 17, 18 and the first before back-to-back birdies on three and four, her only blemish of the day came on the eighth, as she finished top of the leaderboard on 10-under-par.
“I was very solid,” said Ciganda. “Every time you shoot a 64 is a great day. I started very well and made a few putts on the first few holes. I shot six-under on the front nine.
“My putt on 16, which was my seventh hole, was a big putt and that gave me some confidence and then I got four birdies in a row. I was very solid tee-to-green and I’m very happy.
“I wasn’t thinking too much about the result, I was trying to be present as I think that’s when the best results happen. I was nine-under through 12 or 13 holes, so it could’ve been a low one, but I bogeyed eight, so that didn’t happen.
“My last few events haven’t been great, so I spent a couple of days with my coach at Liberty National. I think my swing is back on track, it feels pretty good now. At the end of the day, I will keep working. You have to be always humble, keep practicing and try your best every day.”
Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz is one shot behind her compatriot Ciganda, after she fired her own round of 67 (-5) on day two.
The four-time LET winner had two bogeys and seven birdies on her scorecard including four on the trot on holes 11 to 14.
“My golf game is in a good place now; I played really solid these past two days. I’m really happy and hope I can make more putts tomorrow,” said Iturrioz.
“My golf swing is not consistent in numbers because I am a feeling player. I was always working and playing with how I feel in the moment, now I’m trying to keep a swing where I get the same feeling and the numbers. I’ve been trying to work on that for a couple of years.”
England’s Mimi Rhodes, who led after 18 holes, is in third place on eight-under-par after a second round of 70 (-2).
“I played quite a lot better today, but the putts didn’t drop and I had a disappointing end on the last, but I managed to hole the putt [for bogey],” said Rhodes, who is leading the LET Order of Merit.
“It was a positive day and it was so much fun playing out there with the team and everyone played really well, so I’m really proud of them. I like talking on the golf course and I thrive when I’m around people who are playing well which happened today. I love playing in teams with the motivation and positive vibes.”
Czechia’s Kristyna Napoleaova and Thailand’s Angurasaranee sit in a tie for fourth place on seven-under-par, after they both fired rounds of 66 (-6).
“I had a hole-in-one on Saturday before the tournament, then a hole-in-one yesterday and a hole-out eagle today,” said LET winner Napoleaova.
“It’s been incredible, I don’t feel like I’ve ever had such good ball-striking and had it under control. Last year and the beginning of this season was a struggle, and I feel it’s starting to turnaround a little bit. It’s been an incredible two days.”
Six players round out the top 10 with French trio Nastasia Nadaud, Perrine Delacour and Celine Boutier alongside Germany’s Polly Mack, England’s Charley Hull and Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes on six-under-par.
Round of the week went to Germany’s Helen Briem and Austria’s Emma Spitz who both fired a 65 (-7) to move up to T12 on the leaderboard.
The cut fell at even par with 61 players making it through to the final day of action at Golfcrest Country Club. Round three will begin at 9.10 am (local time) with the leading group teeing off at 10.58 am.
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