El Tenerife Women’s Open 2025 experienced a thrilling third round this Saturday at Abama Golf, marked by the outstanding performance of the Malaga native Ana Peláez, who with a spectacular card of 66 strokes (-6) signed the best round of the tournament and moved into second place tied with -7 overall, just one stroke behind leader Sara Kouskova.
Peláez, who had been playing well all week but hadn’t quite found her touch with the putter, excelled this Saturday in a memorable day of golf. Birdies on the 3rd, 6th, 11th, 17th, and 18th, and a hole-in-one on the par 3 of the 7th hole—one of the most celebrated moments of the day—propelled her climb up the leaderboard. The Malaga native, very comfortable from the start, remained firm in her strategy: “It was a very fun round. I was very calm and knew I wanted to enjoy it, regardless of the result. I think the key was maintaining that patient attitude and going with the flow of the game.”
The understanding with her caddie was fundamental. “We’ve known each other for years and there’s a connection. Even if we don’t talk all the time, we always maintain the same attitude, both in good shots and bad ones,” Ana explained. About her hole-in-one, she recounted: “We were between clubs and I decided to play more conservatively, on the edge of the bunker. When I saw the ball come out well, I turned away, and my teammates started celebrating. It had gone in! It was a very cool, very special moment.”
Peláez, who already knows what it’s like to win on the LET (Madrid Ladies Open, 2022), did not hide her excitement about competing at home: “I love playing in Spain, I always say it. It gives me a special warm feeling, I feel calmer, like I’m in my place. Being able to share weeks like this with the people who support me is a luxury.”
Ahead of her, and taking advantage of the slip by the Irish Lauren Walsh (who signed +5), the Czech Sara Kouskova emerged as the new leader, one of the most in-form players on the circuit. With a round of 69 strokes (-3), the recent winner of the Jabra Ladies Open reached the solo lead with -8 overall. Her round included birdies on holes 6, 11, 14, and 17 and a single bogey on the 12th. “It was a very solid round. Yesterday I finished very tired due to the humidity, but today I felt comfortable from the start. This course demands being very present shot by shot. I’m happy with how I’m hitting and making decisions,” Kouskova explained, who faces the final round with confidence, but without looking too much at the leaderboard: “I try not to think about results. I’m happy to be solid, to make good decisions… and that’s all I can ask for.”
With -7, accompanying Peláez in second place are the Finnish Noora Komulainen (round of -3) and the Singaporean Shannon Tan, who signed the par of the course. One stroke further back, with -6, is a group of top-level chasers such as Helen Briem, Amelia Garvey, Alessandra Fanali, and Emma Spitz. Up to twelve players are within a mere four strokes difference, which anticipates a thrilling final round this Sunday at Abama Golf.
Marta Martín holds on and stays in the fight
Among the Spaniards, Marta Martín managed to stay in the top ten despite signing a round of +2 (74 strokes). “I started very rushed, but then I focused and returned to my routine. Today I wasn’t as sharp with the putter, but I still trust my game. The second shot on the 18th, from between the palm trees, was the best of the day. Spectacular.“, confessed the Madrid native, who with -3 overall still has chances if she finds her rhythm in the final round.
Blanca Fernández signed a solid round that leaves her at -1, while Luna Sobrón (+3), Clara Moyano (+4), and Amaia Latorre (+6) will try to climb positions in Sunday’s finale.
Around the green
Four holes-in-one in three days… and counting
With the holes-in-one achieved by Mimi Rhodes (hole 7) and Clara Moyano (hole 12) in the first two rounds, Saturday added two new aces: Ana Peláez repeated the feat on the 7th and the Scot Lorna McClymont did the same on the 4th hole. There are now four holes-in-one in three days and the absolute circuit record (five) is within reach.
Seven Olympians on the grass of Abama
The Tenerife Women’s Open not only stands out for its spectacular setting but also for the quality of its field. This week, seven Olympic golfers who participated in the Paris 2024 Games are competing: Shannon Tan (Singapore), Emma Spitz (Austria), Sara Kouskova (Czech Republic), Alessandra Fanali (Italy), Diksha Dagar (India), Ursula Wikstrom and Noora Komulainen (both from Finland). All of them (except Ursula) will fight this Sunday to inscribe their name in the history of the tournament… or at least to leave a mark on the island of eternal spring.
