María Herráez takes charge at Laukariz Country Club

• The Madrid native, the only player under par, leads with -4; Amaia Latorre is second (par for the course) and the leader of the ranking, Lauren Holmey, is third (+1)
• Great atmosphere in Bizkaia with a large turnout and a visit from the 3rd year E.S.O. students from St. George’s British International School Bilbao

The first day of the Santander Golf Tour Vizcaya at the Laukariz Country Club had one name on everyone’s lips: María Herráez. The 2024 ranking champion—with three titles under her belt (Club de Golf El Bosque 2023; Dobles de El Bosque 2024; Empordà Golf 2024)—returned to her best form today to deliver the only under-par card of the day (-4) and take a commanding lead. She thus enters the final day as a strong contender for the title after a season in which, apart from a close second place in the inaugural Empordà tournament behind Lauren Holmey, she had not yet found the relentless rhythm she showed in the first half of the 2024 season.

From the penultimate tee, shared with María Parra and local amateur Carmen Sainz, Herráez set the pace with a birdie on the 1st and immediately corrected her bogey on the 2nd. After par on the 3rd, she strung together a decisive stretch with three consecutive birdies from the 6th to the 8th before another bogey on the 9th to close the first round at -3. At that point, Switzerland’s Vanessa Knecht — superb around the green —, María Parra and Marta Pérez were pressing hard at -1, but the Madrid native picked up the pace again: par on the 10th and three consecutive birdies (from the 11th to the 13th) gave her a six-stroke lead halfway through the second round. Bogeys on the 14th and 17th saw her lose some of her lead over her pursuers, but they did not spoil an extraordinary round of four under par on a course as demanding as Laukariz.

At the end of the round, Herráez assessed her performance: ‘Overall, it’s been a very good day. It’s a technical and demanding course, but I’ve done a very good job over the last two days, studying the course well and planning my strategy.’ Looking ahead to tomorrow, she was clear: ‘The important thing is to focus on my own round, on my mini-goals, as I call them, and to continue along these lines to try to get back on the path to victory.’

In second place, Amaia Latorre carded par for the course after a hard-fought round: +1 on the front nine and -1 on the back nine thanks to birdies on the 12th and 14th and a single bogey on the 13th. The Alava native, who is having a great year competitively with two victories under her belt this season (Santander Golf Tour Valencia and Ahlsell Trophy of the LET Access Series in Sweden), will be looking for another title, this time at home. Dutch player Lauren Holmey, leader of the ranking and champion at Empordà Golf, is in third place with +1 after a first round at par (seven pars, birdie on the 1st and bogey on the 9th) and a back nine with bogeys on the 11th and 17th offset by a final birdie on the 18th, which keeps her options intact for tomorrow and practically maintains her as the leader in the rankings.

Behind her, in fourth place with +2, are Elena Melich, Marina Escobar —with Mallorcan Nuria Iturrioz in her bag— and Vanessa Knecht, who managed to sign for -1 on the front nine, boosted by a high-level short game.

The final round of the Santander Golf Tour Vizcaya will tee off tomorrow at 9 a.m., in the first edition to be held at the Laukariz Country Club, coinciding with the club’s 50th anniversary. With María Herráez in the lead and Latorre and Holmey hot on her heels, the outcome promises to be one of the most memorable in recent years.

Around the green

The day was attended by a large crowd, with a special focus on young talent: Year 10 pupils from St. George’s British International School Bilbao enjoyed a complete experience with educational activities on the driving range and putting green, as well as a unique day at a top-level professional tournament featuring some of the best golfers on the national and international scene.

About Laukariz Country Club

Laukariz Country Club, located in Mungia (Vizcaya), offers a privileged natural setting for golf with 27 holes spread over 70 hectares. Its three 9-hole courses allow for three official 18-hole combinations, with an undulating profile that demands precision from the tee and reading of greens between hills and valleys. Founded in 1975, the club is located 15 minutes from Bilbao and 10 minutes from Loiu Airport, and combines sporting challenges with high-level facilities and a well-maintained environment that enhances the playing experience.

About the Santander Golf Tour

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