Casandra Alexander won the KPMG Women’s Irish Open by three shots at The K Club, finishing at 20 under par. South Africa’s Alexander secured her second Ladies European Tour victory in wire-to-wire fashion, holding off a chasing pack that included Leona Maguire in fourth place.
South Africa’s Casandra Alexander claimed victory at a weather-affected KPMG Irish Open with a dominant performance across a sodden week in County Kildare. The 27-year-old Ladies European Tour player broke through after five runner-up finishes this season, closing with a round of 70 on the Palmer South Course at The K Club for a total of 20-under-par 268.
Wire-to-Wire Triumph Amid County Kildare Weather
Alexander’s wire-to-wire victory was highlighted by a course-record 63 on day one and steadied by mental and physical strength through a week of unsettled autumnal weather.
For a few moments on the final day, the coronation threatened to stall when Alexander dropped shots at each of her opening two holes, providing hope to her pursuers. Any fears of a collapse vanished quickly as she strung together three consecutive birdies from the fifth hole. When play resumed following the thunder delay, she rolled in a 15-footer on the 15th to re-establish her three-stroke advantage.
“This one is really special. One, it’s a special event, and two, I almost feel like the second one is as important as the first one because it’s not a fluke!”
Casandra Alexander, via Sky Sports
Alexander wore a special gold necklace given by her husband depicting South African big game animals, with a lion featuring prominently.
Leona Maguire Charges Home in Front of Record Irish Crowds
Leona Maguire mounted a weekend charge at her home event, supported by the strongest home representation in the tournament’s history featuring nine professionals and seven amateurs among a record number of Irish players. Maguire started the final round seven shots adrift but carried the momentum of a brilliant stunning round of 63 on Saturday that featured nine birdies and no dropped shots.
On Sunday, she ignited the home galleries with four birdies in five holes around the turn to reach 15-under-par. Although a string of six straight pars and a dropped shot at the short 17th slowed her momentum, she signed off in style.
She hit a wedge from 77 yards on the 18th hole for a closing tap-in birdie, capping a weekend where she posted 14 birdies and just one bogey. Rydqvist.
“It was another successful Irish Open and the fans made it. It’s nice to get a couple of low rounds and while Friday was the one that got away, overall 15-under is solid and it was nice to give the home fans something to cheer about.”
Leona Maguire, via Sky Sports
That tied-fourth finish matched the Cavan golfer’s best result in her national open, duplicating her performance at Dromoland Castle in 2022.
Solheim Cup Horizon and Final Leaderboard Standings
The strong weekend performance arrives at an ideal time for Maguire, who recently worked on swing changes with coach Sean Foley after missing three consecutive cuts on the LPGA Tour following a tied-eighth finish at the Scottish Open. Selected as a captain’s pick by Europe’s Anna Nordqvist, she heads to the Netherlands as the sole experienced name among four wildcard choices.
Team Europe will prepare to face Team USA at the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup, held at Bernardus Golf, where Maguire brings an 8-3-1 record across three previous appearances and a history of top-scoring as an unbeaten rookie during Europe’s 2021 victory.
| Position | Player | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casandra Alexander | South Africa | -20 |
| 2 | Sara Kouskova | Czech Republic | -17 |
| 3 | Noora Komulainen | Finland | -16 |
| T4 | Leona Maguire | Ireland | -15 |
| T4 | L. Rydqvist | Sweden | -15 |
Behind the leaders, Sara Kouskova of the Czech Republic finished alone in second place at 17 under par, three shots behind Alexander, while Finland’s Noora Komulainen took third at 16 under. Lauren Walsh recorded the best finish among local Kildare players, navigating her way to a closing 69 to finish at eight under par in a tie for 24th place.
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