Dutch player Lauren Holmey achieves her first victory as a professional in the Santander Golf Tour Girona

• Holmey, with a sensational round of 65 strokes, wins at Empordà Golf thanks to a total score of ten under par
• •María Herráez from Madrid, nine under par, came close to another victory

The first tournament of the season on the Santander Golf Tour, played in the now traditional Birdie Challenge format, was undoubtedly one to remember. Under challenging conditions, with gusts of wind that made it extremely difficult for the players, Dutchwoman Lauren Holmey showed grit and courage to claim victory on the links course at Empordà Golf. Thanks to a sensational round of six under par on the final day (-10 overall), the Dutch player was able to beat Madrid’s María Herráez by one stroke and thus claim her first victory as a professional.

Holmey, winner of the LET Access Series Flumserberg Ladies Open as an amateur in 2022, teed off in the star match alongside María Herráez and Miriam Ayora from Catalonia and quickly showed that she would not settle for second place. A birdie on the par-four 4th hole and two consecutive birdies on the 7th and 8th holes put her in first place, tied with Herráez, who struggled with her putting and couldn’t find the form she had on the opening day. In addition, France’s Charlotte Liautier, who started in fifth place, also displayed excellent play from tee to green and, with four birdies in the first round, was just one stroke off the lead at six under par.

A spectacular birdie by the French player on the 12th hole added even more excitement to the final day and put the three-way tie in the lead at seven under par with nine holes to go. However, just when it looked like the tournament would go to a playoff, Holmey found her best form with her wedges and pulled away with three consecutive birdies on holes 14, 15 and 16 to finish ten under par and win the first tournament of the season on the Santander Golf Tour.

At the end of the day, the Dutch player was jubilant: ‘It was difficult to compete in such windy conditions, but I’m delighted. I felt particularly comfortable with my irons, hitting some really good shots in the second round. Most of the birdies I got were practically a given, so I couldn’t ask for more.’ Regarding the fierce competition on the final day, she commented: ‘It was a spectacular finish. I thought I had it in the bag and then suddenly I saw María’s shot on the 18th, which almost resulted in an albatross and sent the tournament into a playoff… but luckily it didn’t go in and I was able to secure the victory.’

With this victory, Lauren Holmey not only makes her debut as champion on the Santander Golf Tour, but also positions herself as one of the season’s leading players. In addition to the trophy, the Dutch player moves to the top of the circuit rankings, taking an important step in the fight for an invitation to the Tenerife Women’s Open, a prize reserved for the leader after the first three tournaments of the season.

The competition does not end here, and the players are already looking ahead to the next event on the circuit, which will be held on 9-10 April at the prestigious Parador de El Saler Golf Course (Valencia). There, under stroke play format, the battle for the Santander ranking and for one of the two invitations to the Super Bock Ladies Open, a LET Access Series tournament to be held at Vidago Golf (Portugal) from 6 to 8 May, will continue.

Holmey, with a victory that demonstrates her ability to perform in decisive moments, has started the year in the best possible way. The Santander Golf Tour 2025 has got off to a strong start, and everything points to this season being one of the most exciting to date.

About Empordà Golf

Located in the heart of the Costa Brava, Empordà Golf is one of Spain’s most outstanding golf destinations. Designed by the prestigious architect Robert von Hagge, it offers two 18-hole courses: the Links, with wide fairways, natural dunes and strategically placed bunkers, and the Forest, which winds through lush pine forests and demands maximum precision. Its combination of technical design and privileged natural surroundings have made it a regular venue for professional tournaments, attracting top-level players.

About the Santander Golf Tour

The Santander Golf Tour is Banco Santander’s firm commitment to professional women’s golf, and celebrates its tenth season in 2025. With ten tournaments throughout Spain, some of them part of higher circuits such as the LETAS, it is supported by Santander Private Banking, Carmignac, and Santander Seguros as sponsors. Homenaje, Wilson Golf, Toa Shoes, and Estrella Damm are the preferred suppliers. The Royal Spanish Golf Federation, together with the Catalan Golf Federation and the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board, provide the rest of the essential support for this tour.