First round of the season. Hole 8. Par 3. Just under 140 metres. A towering shot, on line with the flag, aiming for the pin. Carlota Ciganda quickly picks up the tee and, as if nothing happened, steps to her right to make way for the next player. Serious expression. She knows the shot was good and that she has left herself a good birdie chance. Not much more. From where they hit, the hole is not visible. Carlota, therefore, doesn’t know that the shot was not only good but has gone into the hole. It’s perfection. Hole in one. It propels her round to four under par before reaching the halfway point. A Navarrese rocket flies over the Riyadh Golf Club. Spectacular shot.
It’s hard to imagine a better start to the season. It’s the first round of the PIF Saudi Ladies International, also the first round of the year on the Ladies European Tour, and the first round of 2026 for the Navarrese golfer. She hands in a scorecard of 67 strokes. She is in a crowded sixth place, tied with six other players, just three strokes off the lead shared by Korean Hye Jin Choi (-8) and English Mimi Rhodes (-8), two of the favourites for the win. The LET starts very strong. The Asian is one of the best in the world rankings this week, and the Brit almost won the order of merit last year. Heavyweights. One stroke behind is Japanese Chizzy Iwai (-7), Chisato all her life, who has decided to shorten her name this year.
If Carlota’s start was magnificent, both for the result and the hole in one, the start of Carolina López Chacarra (-5) was no less splendid. She ties with Carlota after a fabulous debut on the Ladies European Tour. It was her first round as a member of the tour. A high-flying debut. She made five birdies without a mistake. She is one of the 14 golfers who did not make any errors in this first round. The playing conditions were favourable, with no wind. A day to score well.
A good start also for Blanca Fernández (-3), Nuria Iturrioz (-2), and Julia López (-1). All of them are within the provisional cut, although it should not be ruled out that it might go to -2 tomorrow. Those who will have to grit their teeth this Friday to make the cut and play all four days are Luna Sobrón (+1), Ana Peláez (+2), and Marta Sanz (+3).
