Holmey and Knecht share the lead alongside Belmati and André at the start of the Santander Golf Tour Seville
- The Dutch-Swiss pair and the French-Moroccan duo dominate the first day of the Doubles Championship with eight under par at Club Zaudín Golf
- Maximum equality ahead of the decisive final day, with four pairs within a single stroke of each other and everything to play for in tomorrow’s greensome format
- Lauren Holmey, on the verge of becoming the new champion in the circuit rankings
The Santander Golf Tour Seville 2025 has got off to the best possible start, with excitement, birdies and a very tight leaderboard after the first day of the Doubles Championship, which is being held at the Club Zaudín Golf course. The event, one of the most special on the calendar, started with fourball (best ball) and will end tomorrow in greensome format, where both players tee off and choose the best ball to continue hitting alternately until they hole out.
The stars of the day were Lauren Holmey and Vanessa Knecht, and the pair formed by Lina Belmati and Lucie André, both with a brilliant score of -8. Close behind, just one stroke behind, were the pairs of María Herráez and María Villanueva, and Amaia Latorre and Marina Escobar, both with -7. With -6, Marta Muñoz and Nina Pegova close out the group of contenders, along with Italians Maria Vittoria Corbi and Emma Lundgren, who also remain in contention for the title.
The day was marked by sunshine and good conditions in the morning, which contrasted with the strong winds that blew in during the second half of the day. This combination of factors made for an exciting round full of birdies, where the rapport between the players proved decisive.
Once again, Lauren Holmey was one of the big names of the day. The Dutch player, accompanied by Switzerland’s Vanessa Knecht, knew that a good performance would bring her closer to the circuit ranking title, and she did not disappoint. Both started strongly, scoring birdies on holes 1, 3 and 4, and another on 6 to reach -4 on the 9th. In the second round, they kept up the pace with three more birdies on 11, 12 and 15, before closing out the day with a final birdie on 17 to complete a round of 63 strokes (-8).
‘We worked very well together. The first few holes were all down to Vanessa; she was the one who drove everything forward. In this format, confidence and communication are everything. We’re going to maintain the same energy tomorrow and enjoy it, because playing as a pair in a tournament like this is an incredible experience,’ said Holmey at the end of the day. Asked about her almost certain victory in the circuit rankings, Holmey said, ‘Obviously, it would be a dream to win it. The goal is very close, we just need to be tenths ahead and Llaneza not to win to achieve it, but we want to win the tournament no matter what.’
Lina Belmati and Lucie André achieved the same result, completing a spectacular round. After a quiet start with three consecutive pars, they began to pick up the pace with birdies on the 4th and 6th, and an impressive eagle on the par-5 8th, the only one of the day. On the back nine, they maintained their consistency with further birdies on the 10th, 15th, 16th and 18th. ‘It was one of those days where if one of us faltered, the other stepped up,’ explained Belmati. André, who scored the eagle, elaborated: ‘It was on the 8th hole, I hit a great 3-wood from about 220 metres and left it a metre and a half from the flag. There are days when everything goes right, and today was one of those days. We really enjoyed ourselves.’
Spain’s Amaia Latorre and Marina Escobar completed a flawless round with seven birdies and a very solid game, especially on the front nine, where they managed five consecutive birdies between the 3rd and 8th. Another birdie on the 11th and a brilliant finish on the 18th put them just one stroke behind the leaders. The same was true for María Herráez and María Villanueva, who also shot a 7-under thanks to a great first round, with four consecutive birdies from the 5th to the 8th and a display of precision on the greens despite the afternoon wind.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Maria Vittoria Corbi and Emma Lundgren had one of the most spectacular starts of the day, with five consecutive birdies on the first five holes and a first round of -6. Their putting was key, although a couple of mistakes in the second half of the round saw them drop to fifth place, tied at -6.
The Santander Golf Tour Seville Doubles Championship faces its decisive day tomorrow in greensome format, where strategy will be essential in deciding the champions of one of the most eagerly awaited events of the season. With just two strokes separating the top six pairs, excitement is guaranteed at Club Zaudín Golf.
About Club Zaudín Golf
Club Zaudín Golf, founded in 1992, is located in a privileged location in Seville, just a few minutes from the city centre. This golf course, which covers 62 hectares, has an 18-hole course designed by the renowned Gary Player, who knew how to combine the beauty of the Andalusian landscape with a technical and challenging design. With wide fairways, large bunkers and strategically placed water hazards, the course demands precision and a solid game strategy. Its total length of 6,373 metres allows players to enjoy spectacular views while practising in an environment that respects the native flora and fauna, offering a complete and unique experience on every round.
The images in the presentation were accompanied by horses from Hípica Zaudín, provided by Antonio Verdejo, a professional dressage rider with extensive national and international experience, trained at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art and winner of multiple championships in Spain and Andalusia.
About the Santander Golf Tour
Homenaje, Wilson Golf, Toa Shoes, and Estrella Damm are the preferred suppliers. The Royal Spanish Golf Federation, together with the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation and the other regional federations through which the circuit passes, provide the rest of the essential support for this tour.