England’s Mimi Rhodes won her first Ladies European Tour title at the Women’s NSW Open in Australia.
The 23-year-old led by one shot before the final round in Wollongong and stayed calm to finish two shots ahead of Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley and Italy’s Alessandra Fanali.
Playing only her fourth LET event, Rhodes had a flawless final round, scoring a two-under 69 to finish at 17 under.
“I’m still in shock, but I’m so happy,” she said. “I’ve worked really hard for this.”
Her win came just a week after missing the cut at the Australian Women’s Classic. However, she bounced back by setting a course record with a nine-under 62 on Friday, sharing the lead with Sara Kouskova.
Rhodes secured the outright lead on Saturday with a round of 68 and maintained it until the end.
She started strong with birdies on the second and fourth holes, followed by 14 straight pars, while Rudgeley and Fanali tried to close the gap.
Rudgeley had five birdies for a three-under 68, while Fanali’s third birdie on the 17th put her just one shot behind. However, Fanali’s mistake on the 18th hole gave Rhodes the chance to secure the win with a steady two-putt.
“I struggled last week and made a swing change—it clearly worked,” said Rhodes, who planned to celebrate with family and friends in Sydney.
“I felt fine at first, but when the game got tight, I got nervous. I focused on breathing and staying calm. It was tough, but I’m so happy I pulled through.”
