Melich and Gestsdottir share the lead on a foggy day at the Santander Golf Tour La Coruña
- The Spanish and Icelandic players lead with -1 on a day affected by thick fog at the Real Club de Golf de La Coruña
- The leaders in the rankings, Lauren Holmey and Alejandra Llaneza, finish the day at par with five holes still to play before the final round
The Santander Golf Tour La Coruña got underway with a first day that was as unusual as it was intense at the Real Club de Golf de La Coruña, where fog and rain were the main features from early in the morning. The weather conditions forced play to be temporarily suspended after only the first four groups had teed off from the 1st tee, in a scenario where visibility was minimal on the opening holes of the course.
After several hours of waiting, it was decided to resume play in the afternoon from the 6th tee, with the aim of recovering as many holes as possible. In the midst of this exceptional situation, Elena Melich and Hulda Gestsdottir managed to adapt better than anyone else to the circumstances, ending the day sharing the provisional lead with a total of -1.
Spain’s Elena Melich, from Guadalajara, carded a very solid round despite not being able to complete the 18 holes. After a single bogey on the front nine (on the 7th hole) and another on the 10th, the Arriacense found her best golf on the back nine, highlighting a spectacular eagle on the par-5 13th hole, where she sank a very long putt. Her consistency on the final holes — five consecutive pars and a birdie on the 2nd — allowed her to end the day on a high note and with a real chance of victory tomorrow.
For her part, Iceland’s Hulda Gestsdottir was one of the few players who managed to finish the 18 holes before the lack of light forced play to be stopped again. Despite starting with a bogey on the 1st hole, the Nordic player managed to keep her cool and improve as the holes went by. A birdie on the par-5 sixth hole marked the start of her comeback, to which she added a brilliant second round with birdies on the 12th, 13th and 16th holes that put her in the lead. With a final score of 71 (-1), Gestsdottir was the surprise of the day and is now a serious contender for the title.
Among the big names on the circuit, the leaders of the ranking, Lauren Holmey and Alejandra Llaneza, lived up to expectations and remain very close to the lead. Both finished the day tied at par for the course, with five holes left to play due to lack of light.
The Dutch player Holmey, this season’s champion at Empordà Golf and Club de Campo Laukariz, once again demonstrated her consistency and competitive maturity, scoring birdies on holes 6, 11 and 13, offset by bogeys on 7, 14 and 16. Her solid performance keeps her in contention for her third title of the season and the coveted top spot in the overall ranking.
Mexico’s Alejandra Llaneza, who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and won this year’s Santander Golf Tour LETAS Ávila, also had an outstanding performance despite an uneven start. After starting with two consecutive bogeys on holes 8 and 9, the Mexican recovered with birdies on 11, 13 and 17, once again demonstrating her experience and ability to fight in adverse conditions.
Behind her, at +1 overall, are María Villanueva, Ana Pina, Raquel Romero and Scotland’s Laura Beveridge, all of whom are in contention for the title on the final day.
The first round will resume tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., when the players will complete the remaining holes before moving on to the final round, scheduled for around 10:15 a.m. With the circuit rankings red hot and the two leaders, Holmey and Llaneza, separated by just 6,000 points, excitement is guaranteed in La Coruña in what promises to be a thrilling end to the season.
About Real Club de Golf de La Coruña
The Real Club de Golf de La Coruña, founded in 1961, is located in La Zapateira, a few kilometres from the city centre. This golf course, covering some 74 hectares, offers a challenging 18-hole course perfectly integrated into its natural surroundings. The design, by Philip Mackenzie Ross, features undulating fairways and strategic water hazards that test players’ accuracy and skill. With a total length of 6,058 metres, the course offers panoramic views of the Galician coastline, in an environment where local species and the surrounding nature are respected and protected.
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 LET Access Series (LETAS)—it is supported by Santander Private Banking, Carmignac, Santander Seguros, and the Government of Aragon as sponsors of the event. Homenaje, Wilson Golf, Toa Shoes, and Estrella Damm are the preferred suppliers. The Royal Spanish Golf Federation and the Aragonese Golf Federation, together with the other regional federations through which the circuit passes, provide the rest of the essential support for the tour.