Two Spanish players will head into Sunday with chances of victory in Australia. Nuria Iturrioz (-12) and Blanca Fernández (-11) are giving themselves an opportunity. For the Balearic, it would be the fifth victory of her career on the Ladies European Tour, and for the Madrid native, her first in just five tournaments on the circuit. A Sunday to dream of the first Spanish victory of the season.
Nuria has taken full advantage of the moving day at the Ford Women’s NSW Open with a round of 65, six under par, climbing up the leaderboard to third place, three shots behind England’s Mimi Rhodes (-15). The round was flawless. Six birdies without error, capitalising on four of the par fives. Only the ninth hole at Wollongong Golf Club resisted.
Nuria started the tournament like a bullet, leading after the first 18 holes, but in the second round, she lost ground with a lacklustre even-par day. She needed to step on the gas again, and she did so without hesitation. She has recovered brilliantly and is putting pressure on the tournament leader. Nuria will head into Sunday in the featured group, trying to find her moment. Three shots difference is nothing.
Mimi Rhodes is facing her rookie season on the circuit and will fight for her first win in the LET this Sunday. The 24-year-old golfer, born in Beth and a former teammate of Carol López Chacarra at Wake Forest, already knows what it’s like to win on the LET Access in just eight months and wants to make her mark in the top division. The Englishwoman showed no nerves on moving day. She started as the leader and delivered a flawless 68. She shows promise.
Blanca Fernández, on the other hand, also faced a challenging task and managed it brilliantly. She played in the penultimate group on moving day, and despite not being at her most precise, she has created a winning opportunity. Yesterday, she scored five under par on the par fives, and this Saturday, she played them at even par. A big difference, but even so, she was able to endure and wait for her moment.
Undoubtedly, the moment of the day came at the 2nd hole, a 307-metre par four. After a great drive, the ball stopped about 40 metres from the flag. From there, she executed a spectacular approach that bounced, passed the flag by two metres, and spun back directly into the hole. A great eagle that launched her round.
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A bogey from the Madrid native followed to close the first nine holes. Between holes 11 and 13, Blanca had her best form of the day with three consecutive birdies, and when it seemed she would head into Sunday three shots off the lead, the second bogey of the day came. One that stings, on the last hole and a par five that is usually a birdie opportunity. Blanca will head into the final round four shots behind Rhodes, seeking a stellar Sunday that allows her to dream.
Among the other contenders, Alessandra Fanali stands out in second place (-14). The Italian signed a 64, the best score of the day, to get right into the mix. Local player Kirsten Rudgeley (-12) will also look to open her account this Sunday in the LET.
