Spectacular start to the Tenerife Women’s Open at Abama Golf

• Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen and Ireland’s Lauren Walsh share the lead at -5 after a brilliant first round
• Marta Martín is the top Spanish player in sixth place at -2, followed by Ana Peláez and Blanca Fernández, who finished one under par on a promising day for Spanish golf
• Mimi Rhodes, winner of three tournaments this season, scored a hole-in-one on the 7th hole.

The Tenerife Women’s Open 2025 enjoyed a thrilling opening day on Thursday with some superb golf on the Abama Golf course, in a first round that provided spectacle, birdies, and a shared lead between two unexpected names on the circuit.

In the morning, Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen was the first to set the pace with a sensational 67 (-5). She started strong with a birdie on the 1st hole and, after a stumble on the 4th, strung together an almost perfect round, hitting 17 greens in regulation. She added birdies on 7, 11, 13, 17, and 18 to move to the top of the leaderboard. The Dane, who won three titles on the LET Access Series in 2023 and won the circuit’s Order of Merit, looked very comfortable on a course that rewards tactical play and accurate iron shots.

In the afternoon session, it was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh who equaled the best round of the day with a flawless 67 without any bogeys. Birdies on the 10th and 18th on the front nine marked a solid start, and on the back nine she added three more birdies on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th to close out a round that confirms her excellent form. The Dublin player, who is yet to win on the LET, is now a serious contender for the title in her quest for her first trophy.

Behind her, just one stroke back, was England’s Eleanor Givens (-4), thanks to a smart and flawless round. With five birdies and only two bogeys, she carded a solid 68 and proved she is in contention for her first victory on the circuit.

Spanish golf rose to the occasion, with seventeen representatives in the field and several in prominent positions after the first day. Marta Martín, recent winner of the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open in 2024, was the best Spanish player of the day with a round of 70 strokes (-2), placing her in sixth position tied with eleven other players. “I came here feeling quite uncertain due to a neck injury, but this week at home has helped me regain my confidence. I really enjoyed myself today, I found my rhythm on the course again and everything flowed. The course is demanding, and the greens force you to think about every shot. You have to be in the right spot or you can end up with two or three putts without realizing it,“ explained the Madrid native, visibly excited to be competing again in a tournament of this level on Spanish soil. ”Being able to play here in Tenerife, surrounded by my family, in this environment, is a huge blessing. I feel supported, and that also pushes me forward.”

One stroke behind her, at -1, were Ana Peláez and Blanca Fernández, who showed solidity from the tee and good control of the greens to finish in the top 20. Mimi Rhodes, leader of the Order of Merit, signed for -2, while Luna Sobrón and María Hernández finished at par for the course, staying close to the top positions.

Meanwhile, Harang Lee and Clara Moyano (+2), along with Carmen Alonso, Amaia Latorre, Emma Cabrera-Bello, and Marta Sanz (+3), will seek to improve their scores tomorrow to move closer to the top positions and make the cut on a decisive day.

Around the green

World Environment Day: golf and sustainability in the heart of Tenerife

This June 5th, coinciding with the first official day of the Tenerife Women’s Open, World Environment Day is celebrated, a very significant date for a tournament that takes place on an island and a course fully committed to sustainability. “ ”

Abama Golf, part of the Abama Resort Tenerife complex, has developed a management model in recent years that is committed to respecting the environment. The course director, Brendan Breen, described his involvement as follows: “Everyone at Abama has a real commitment to sustainability. On the course, we use natural plant protection products made in our own factory, and all the water comes from our desalination or treatment plant, water that we use so as not to touch a single drop of the water that goes to homes. We are also implementing satellite programs to further reduce water use. On an island with limited resources, all courses—including Abama—are doing their part to care for the environment. We are proud to host this event on a 100% sustainable course.

Sustainability is integrated into all aspects of the tournament. Turismo de Tenerife, the main promoter of the event, reinforces its commitment to a more respectful tourism model with this event, positioning the island as a quality destination with a diverse, sustainable, and accessible golf offering all year round.

Mimi Rhodes, hole in one on the 7th and strong contender for the title

England’s Mimi Rhodes, the undisputed favorite this week and current leader of the LET Order of Merit, scored the first hole-in-one of the tournament on the par-3 seventh hole. With a round of 70 (-2), she remains in contention, just three strokes off the lead.

Rhodes arrives in Tenerife after winning three tournaments this season and is undoubtedly one of the players to watch over the weekend. Her consistent performance and talent make her a strong contender to lift the trophy this Sunday at Abama Golf.