Rhodes Keeps Her Cool to Win Ford Women's NSW Open
2025 LET
Seoul, Korea - Mimi Rhodes, the young sensation from England, clinched her maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) victory with a cool, calculated performance at the Ford Women’s NSW Open. At just 23 years old, Rhodes demonstrated a maturity that belies her age, navigating Wollongong Golf Club without a single bogey on the final day to card a two-under-par 69, sealing the deal at 17-under for the tournament.
Entering Sunday with a slender one-shot lead, Rhodes held off stiff competition from Italy's Alessandra Fanali and Australia’s own Kirsten Rudgeley. The defining moment came on the 18th hole—a challenging par-5 where Fanali’s misstep, pulling her tee shot and subsequently taking a drop, allowed Rhodes to maintain her composure and two-putt her way to a two-shot victory.
Rhodes, competing in only her fourth event as a full LET member, managed to maintain her nerve, particularly on the back nine. "I was fine on the front nine, but when it started to get tight I got a bit stressed," she admitted post-round. Her ability to remain focused under pressure was key to her success.
Her weekend included a record-breaking 62 on Friday, setting a new course record at Wollongong Golf Club. This performance, combined with steady play throughout the weekend, underscored her readiness for the professional stage—a significant leap given her already impressive amateur career.
This victory adds to Rhodes' decorated resume, which boasts titles such as the Curtis Cup and NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship, highlighting her transition from a successful amateur career to the professional ranks.
Celebrations are in order as Rhodes plans to spend the evening with family and friends in Sydney, with a bit of champagne to mark the occasion, before her journey back home. "They don’t really drink but I’ll definitely be drinking," she joked.
The LET now takes a break before heading to South Africa for the Joburg Ladies Open and the Investec SA Women’s Open, where Rhodes will look to build on her newfound status in the top echelons of the tour. With this victory, Rhodes not only moves into third place in the LET Order of Merit but also establishes herself as a formidable contender on the European circuit.