Mimi Rhodes produced a composed final day display at Wollongong Golf Club to win the Ford Women’s NSW Open by two shots and earn a maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) victory.
Related: Mimi Rhodes in rookie career’s biggest Sunday
The 23-year-old rookie went bogey-free on Sunday carding a round of 69 (-2) to end the week on 17-under par.
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Leading by one heading into the final round, she pipped Italy’s Alessandra Fanali and Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley to the trophy after the former was forced to take a drop on the closing par-5 18th.
“I’m honestly still in shock,” Rhodes said. “But I’m so happy. I’ve worked really hard for this. I had a difficult week last week [missing the cut in Coffs Harbour], I went through a swing change and it obviously worked! I’m just really happy.”
“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.”
On a tense final day, Rhodes – competing in only her fourth event as a full LET member – showed maturity way beyond her years carding 14 straight pars after birdies at the 2nd and 4th. This came two days after she fired the course record 62 (-9) at Wollongong Golf Club.
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As others failed to make the birdies drop elsewhere, drama unfolded on the par-3 17th when Fanali carded a fantastic birdie to move to within one.
Then, a nightmare for the Italian as Fanali pulled her tee shot on the closing par-5 18th forcing her to take a penalty drop. Having hit the fairway, Rhodes was able to play safely up to the green before two-putting for the two shot victory.
The 23-year-old adds the maiden LET title to her impressive catalogue of amateur wins – a resume which includes a Curtis Cup, US Kids European Championship, Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship and NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship. The victory also comes one year after Rhodes won the Lavaux Ladies Open.
Rhodes said: “To celebrate I’m spending the night with family and friends in Sydney. Maybe we’ll have some champagne! They don’t really drink but I’ll definitely be drinking. Then I have my flight home tomorrow.”
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Home favourite Rudgeley birdied the par-5 18th to card a round of 68 (-3) and share second spot with Fanali on 15-under par.
Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova ended the week in solo fourth on 14-under par.
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Switzerland’s Kim Metraux hit the shot of the day making a hole-in-one on the par-3 10th. A final day 69 (-2) helped her finish fifth alongside Sweden’s Moa Folke as well as Spanish duo Nuria Iturrioz and Blanca Fernandez.
