Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen and Ireland’s Lauren Walsh share the lead with -5 after a brilliant first round
Marta Martín, best Spanish player in sixth position with -2, escorted by Ana Peláez and Blanca Fernández, who finished one under par in a promising day for the national golf
Mimi Rhodes, winner of three tournaments this season, signed a hole in one on the 7th hole
The Tenerife Women’s Open 2025 lived this Thursday a vibrant opening day with an excellent level of golf on the grass of Abama Golf, in a first round that left spectacle, birdies, and a shared leadership between two unexpected names of the circuit.
In the morning, the Danish Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen was the first to set the pace with a sensational card of 67 strokes (-5). She started strong with a birdie at hole 1 and, after a stumble at the 4th, she put together an almost perfect round, with 17 greens in regulation. She added birdies on the 7th, 11th, 13th, 17th and 18th to be at the top of the leaderboard. The Dane, who in 2023 won three titles in the LET Access Series and won the circuit’s Order of Merit, was very comfortable on a course that rewards tactical play and accurate shots with the irons.
In the afternoon, it was the Irish Lauren Walsh who matched the best round of the day with a flawless round of 67 without bogeys. Birdies at 10 and 18 in the first nine holes marked a solid start, and in the second she added three more birdies at 1, 3 and 5 to close a round that confirms her excellent form. The player from Dublin, still without victories in the LET, is positioned as a serious candidate for the title in her quest for the first trophy.
Behind, just one stroke behind, was England’s Eleanor Givens (-4), thanks to an intelligent and flawless round. With five birdies and only two bogeys, she signed a solid card of 68 and proved to be in a position to fight for her first victory in the circuit.
The Spanish golf responded to the height, with seventeen representatives in the field and several in prominent positions after the first day. Marta Martín, recent winner of the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open in 2024, was the best Spaniard of the day with a round of 70 strokes (-2) that places her in sixth position tied with eleven other players. “I came with a lot of mistrust due to a neck injury, but this week at home has helped me to recover my sensations. Today I really enjoyed myself, I found myself on the field again and everything went smoothly. The course is demanding, and the greens force you to think about every shot. You have to be in the right area or you can end up with two or three putts without realizing it,” explained the Spaniard, visibly excited to return to compete in a tournament of this level on Spanish soil. “To be able to play here in Tenerife, surrounded by my family, in this environment, is immensely fortunate. I feel supported, and that also pushes me”.
Ana Pelaez and Blanca Fernandez finished one stroke behind, with -1, showing solidity from the tee and good control of greens to finish inside the top-20. Mimi Rhodes, leader of the Order of Merit, signed -2, while Luna Sobrón and María Hernández finished at par, keeping close to the privileged positions.
Meanwhile, Harang Lee and Clara Moyano (+2), along with Carmen Alonso, Amaia Latorre, Emma Cabrera-Bello and Marta Sanz (+3), will be looking to improve their rounds tomorrow to get closer to the leading positions and make the cut on a decisive day.
Around the green
World Environment Day: golf and sustainability in the heart of Tenerife
This June 5, coinciding with the first official day of the Tenerife Women’s Open, is World Environment Day, a very significant date for a tournament played on an island and a course fully committed to sustainability. “ ”
Abama Golf, within the Abama Resort Tenerife complex, has developed in recent years a management model that is committed to respecting the environment. The director of the course, Brendan Breen, valued his involvement in this way: “All of us at Abama have a real commitment to sustainability. On the course we use natural phytosanitary products made in our own factory, and all the water comes from our desalination plant or water treatment plant, water that we use so that we don’t touch a drop of the water that goes to homes.
We are also implementing satellite programs to further reduce water use. On an island with limited resources, all the courses-including Abama-are doing our part to take care of the environment. We are proud to host this event on a 100% sustainable course.”
Sustainability is integrated into all aspects of the tournament. Tourism of Tenerife, the main promoter of the event, reinforces with this event its commitment to a more respectful tourism model, positioning the island as a quality destination, with a diverse, sustainable and accessible golf offer all year round.
Mimi Rhodes, hole in one on the 7th and a firm candidate for the title
The English Mimi Rhodes, undisputed favorite this week and current leader of the LET Order of Merit, signed the first hole in one of the tournament on the par 3 7th hole. With a round of 70 strokes (-2), she remains in prominent positions just three strokes off the lead.
Rhodes arrives in Tenerife having won three tournaments this season and is undoubtedly one of the players to watch over the weekend. Her consistent performance and talent make her a strong candidate to lift the trophy this Sunday at Abama Golf.