– Mimi Rhodes (-11) leads solo at the PIF Saudi Ladies International after the second round held at the Riyadh Golf Club. The English golfer, second in the order of merit of the circuit last year and with an LPGA Tour card obtained through the Q Series, delivered a card of 69 strokes this Friday, with four birdies and a solitary bogey, and occupies the first place with a one-stroke advantage over South African Casandra Alexander (-10), who recently lost in the playoff of the inaugural tournament of her country’s Sunshine Ladies Tour, and Japanese Chizzy Iwai. Alexander scored 67 strokes and Iwai delivered a card of 69.
– The top three are players with international victories and weight. They are tough competitors. Rhodes and Iwai have LPGA cards, and Alexander narrowly missed out in last year’s school final. Even more power and pedigree are found just behind them, including Spanish Carlota Ciganda (-9). The Navarrese needs no introduction. Solheim Cup player, winner of three tournaments on the LPGA Tour, and a dominant force in the Ladies European Tour whenever she has had the chance to play on this side of the Atlantic. The other is not far behind. She is Japanese Rio Takeda (-9), last year’s sensation on the LPGA Tour. Today she scored 66 strokes.
– Carlota delivered a card of 68, with four birdies and no mistakes. An ‘easy’ day for the golfer from Ulzama. She has already completed 36 holes with only one error to her name. A splendid display considering it’s her first tournament of the year. It’s clear that, despite having her wedding in December, Ciganda hasn’t been idle in the preseason. She is a serious contender for victory, although it won’t be easy. There are 36 holes left and there are very strong names up there.
– Just one stroke behind the Spaniard, players like Shannon Tan (-8), who recorded the best round of the day (65 strokes) and winner of the LET order of merit in 2025, as well as Japanese and sister of Chizzy, Akie Iwai (-8), and Korean Hye Jin Choi (-8), leader after Thursday who had a weak day today with a par round. Also, don’t overlook English Charley Hull (-7). As the best player in the tournament according to the world ranking, she is capable of very low rounds, so being four strokes off the lead with 36 holes to go, she must be considered for the victory.
– As for the rest of the Spanish players, Carolina López Chacarra (-6), Nuria Iturrioz (-5), Blanca Fernández (-3), and Julia López (-2) have also made the cut with the top 60 and ties. Carolina and Nuria can still aspire to everything, while Blanca and Julia are a bit more detached, although both are explosive players who can go very low any day and get into the fight for everything.
– Those who missed the cut are Luna Sobrón (+1), Marta Sanz (+3), and Ana Peláez (+5).
– As often happens, there are also high-profile golfers who missed the cut, such as Yani Tseng, Ariya Jutanugarn, Amy Yang, Nastasia Nadaud, Celine Boutier, or Albane Valenzuela.
