Eight Spanish players among those qualifying for the round of 16 in the Santander Golf Tour Match Play

• Italy’s Caterina Tatti, two under par, leads the first day of competition in the Santander Golf Tour Cantabria

The opening day of the Santander Golf Tour Match Play got underway on Wednesday at Real Golf de Pedreña, with an intense qualifying round in medal play format that produced plenty of excitement and some superb shots. At stake was a place in the round of 16, where only the top 16 qualifiers made it through to the match play stage, which will be played on Thursday and Friday at one of the most iconic courses in our country.

The standout player of the day was Italy’s Caterina Tatti, who carded a round of 69 (-2) thanks to her consistency and flawless play. A flawless first round with a birdie on the 7th hole catapulted her to the top of the leaderboard, which she consolidated on the back nine with birdies on the 12th, 13th, and 16th holes, and only two bogeys on the 15th and 18th. Tatti showed great form on the opening day of the tournament, confirming her good play at the start of the season.

Behind her, the reigning champion, Russia’s Nina Pegova, showed that she has come to defend her title, with a solid round of 70 strokes (-1). Pegova, who beat Spain’s Marta Muñoz in the 2024 final, started strongly with two birdies and no mistakes on the first nine holes, and was the sole leader for much of the day. However, in the second half of the round, she was unable to keep up with the pace set by the Italian, scoring a birdie on the 11th hole and two bogeys on the 10th and 18th, but making it clear that she does not intend to give up her throne easily.

Tied for third place at par for the course were Spain’s María Villanueva and England’s Natasha Fear. Villanueva, a semifinalist last year and one of the great promises of Spanish golf, found her best game in the second round. For her part, Fear came back from a difficult start with the only eagle of the day, on the 6th hole, and a solid second round.

In total, eight Spanish players will compete in the round of 16 tomorrow, confirming the good form of Spanish women’s golf. Those who qualified are María Villanueva, Natasha Fear, Raquel Romero, Marta Pérez, Paz Marfá, Leticia Ras-Anderica, Clara Moyano, and Fátima González Carriles.

The story of the day was provided by Fátima González Carriles and Sweden’s Linn Wiberg, who tied for 16th place and had to play a playoff for the last spot available in the draw. On the first hole, after two good tee shots and a close battle, it was the Madrid native who sank a six-meter putt to seal her place on a course she knows perfectly well.

The round of 16 will start at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, followed by the quarterfinals at 12:40 p.m., in a day that promises exciting duels. The match play format, so beloved by the players, will force them to bring out the best in each other in a direct face-off where mistakes are costly.

In addition to the prestige of the title, the tournament has an added incentive: the player who leads the circuit rankings after this event will receive an invitation to compete in the Tenerife Women’s Open (June 5-8), a Ladies European Tour event to be held at Abama Golf on the island of Tenerife. With the rankings as tight as they are, any of the sixteen qualified players still has a chance to win this coveted prize.

The Real Golf de Pedreña, in impeccable condition, has once again lived up to expectations for an event marked in red on the players’ calendars. With its technical and demanding course, and the Cantabrian Sea as a backdrop, the spectacle is guaranteed.

About Real Golf de Pedreña

Real Golf de Pedreña, founded in 1928, is one of Spain’s most prestigious and traditional golf clubs. Located in the Cantabrian town of Pedreña, this club is known for being the birthplace of legendary golfer Severiano Ballesteros. The golf course offers stunning views of Santander Bay and is surrounded by natural surroundings that combine the charm of the Cantabrian landscape with a challenging and attractive design for golfers of all levels. For the Santander Golf Tour, the course will be played at 5,368 meters, with a mix of white, yellow, and blue tees.

About Santander Golf Tour

The Santander Golf Tour is Banco Santander’s firm commitment to professional women’s golf, and it will celebrate 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 and the Cantabrian Golf Federation, together with the other regional federations through which the circuit passes, provide the rest of the essential support for the tour.