The Englishwoman Mimi Rhodes claimed her second title on the Ladies European Tour this Sunday by winning the Joburg Ladies Open. The second consecutive in the season as a rookie for this young 23-year-old player trained in Andalucía. Just a few weeks ago, she won the Ford Women’s NSW Open in Australia.
Rhodes entered the final round as the leader with a three-shot advantage over South African Casandra Alexander and Irishwoman Lauren Walsh, both tied in second place. On a day complicated by weather conditions, the young Briton showed composure and consistency at the Modderfontein Golf Club, carding three birdies and a final round of 71 strokes (-2), to finish the tournament with a total of -14.
“I still can’t believe it, I’m in shock,” confessed Rhodes after her second victory on the LET. “I’m on cloud nine, speechless. I’ve worked so hard for this moment. I can’t thank my family, friends, coaches enough… I have so many all over the world! And my caddie, for being with me on the course and helping me get here.”
The champion admitted that a playoff crossed her mind after slightly overshooting the 18th green, but she managed to stay calm and secured the par. “I was chipping well all day and that shot felt comfortable. I was torn between two options and I’m glad I chose the right one.”
With this triumph, Rhodes follows in the footsteps of Linn Grant, who also achieved two consecutive victories in her rookie season in 2022. Grant then won the Mithra Belgian Ladies Open and the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed. Interestingly, she also won in Joburg that year, in her LET debut. Not bad footsteps to follow in Grant’s…
During the week, Rhodes stayed with fellow Englishwoman Lily May Humphreys in an Airbnb just minutes from the course. “It was great. It was a gated community, very close to everything. With the rain delays, we went back and forth to rest, so it worked out very well.”
The victory was not easy. Casandra Alexander pushed until the end, with both players making birdie on the 17th hole. “Casandra played very well and kept me under pressure. The nerves got to me in the last few holes. Walking to the 18th, I was just thinking about not getting ahead of myself mentally.” Rhodes confessed to living a dream: “I never would have imagined it. It’s a dream come true. Playing this well so early in my career… I’m speechless. Winning in another country and having it be my second consecutive title gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season and my professional career.”
The Spanish players did not have the best Sunday. The best-ranked was finally María Hernández (-2), in 28th place, who shot 71 in the final round. Further back were Blanca Fernández (-1) and Nuria Iturrioz (PAR). Nuria started the day even with a chance of victory, but everything went against her, especially in the last nine holes, with a +5 between holes 13 and 15 for a total of 79 strokes.
Now, the Ladies European Tour heads to Cape Town, where it will play next week at the Investec South African Women’s Open at Erinvale Country and Golf Estate (10-13 April).
Final standings and achievements
Just one stroke behind finished Casandra Alexander with -13, highlighting her solid performance with only one bogey on the 7th hole. The German Helen Briem completed a bogey-free round to finish third with -11. The Swede Kajsa Arwefjall and the Irishwoman Lauren Walsh shared fourth place with -10.
The defending champion Chiara Tamburlini, along with South African Kiera Floyd, finished sixth with -9. Meanwhile, Indian Diksha Dagar and Australian Kelsey Bennett tied for eighth place with -7.
Due to heavy rains and the condition of the course, the tournament was officially reduced to 54 holes.
LET Rankings
After her second consecutive victory, Mimi Rhodes now leads the Race to Costa del Sol with 1,036.50 points. She is followed by Englishwoman Cara Gainer with 870.18 and Belgian Manon De Roey with 577.50 points. She also leads the Rookie of the Year standings, ahead of Arwefjall, who has had a great start to the season.
