Germany’s Verena Gimmy, Austria’s Isabella Holpfer and France’s Anne-Charlotte Mora all share the lead after round one of the inaugural Women’s Irish Challenge.
Playing in the morning wave Gimmy got off to a brilliant start after firing an opening round of 67 (-5).
Gimmy, who began day one on 10, started with two birdies in the first six holes before a bogey put her back one stroke. Undeterred Gimmy rolled in another birdie on the 18th.
At the turn, another bogey occurred before Gimmy gained confidence and racked up another four birdies to finish her round.
“Towards the end I felt very confident. I had an eight-metre putt for birdie on the last so that was a very nice bonus to this round today.
“I’m very happy, very lucky and there is lots of golf to play in the next few days. I’m taking the small win here today.”
Gimmy has played a full season on the LET after earning her card back in December at Q School. The 2022 LETAS winner’s highest finish this season has been tied 28th at the Joburg Ladies Open.
This is the second time Gimmy has competed in Ireland this season.
“I was here for the KPMG Women’s Open a few weeks back and the weather is a little bit better this week so that’s great. I love Ireland, love the people and I love the golf course. It’s in great condition.
“I needed a round like this to build some confidence next week. I’m going to Houston for the Aramco event, so this week is all about building confidence.
“I feel like I did a good job today.”
France’s Anne-Charlotte Mora had an amazing front nine of five-under-par before another birdie on the eleventh dropped in to take her to six under.
Then Mora started to get shaky with a double bogey on the 12th and another bogey on the 15th. However, the Frenchwoman bounced back with a stunning eagle on the 18th after putting her second shot to six feet from the flagstick.
“I’m happy with that round. It started well and ended well. This course plays tough in the wind, its challenging but I really like it.”
The 2022 LET winner has spent most of the 2025 season on the LET and seems to have the luck of the Irish having finished in the top 10 at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open this year.
“My season has been ok. I had hoped for better things. There seems to be something about Ireland, I do really like it here.
“Tomorrow, I want to hit my driver as good as today and keep going.”
Also, on five-under-par was Austria’s Isabella Holpfer who with seven birdies and two bogeys sits in share of the lead.
Speaking about her round, Holpfer said: “I tried to keep committed throughout my shots. I got tired at the end, but I kept it up to finish with two consecutive birdies.”
Holpfer, like Mora, has history in Ireland. When she was 14, she won her first international tournament, the 2015 Irish Ladies Amateur Champion and today playing Malahide brought back memories.
“I’ve played in Ireland many times. My victory was on a parkland course and Malahide reminds me of it. The greens are in amazing condition to putt on.
“Tomorrow, I will treat it like a new day, start from zero and we’ll go from there.”
Winning the hearts of the crowd was Northern Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey who started her campaign to win at home off strongly.
Mehaffey fired six birdies and two bogeys to card an opening round of 68 (-4) to sit solo second.
Speaking about her round, Mehaffey said: “It was a lot of fun. I had a nice little crowd going on and some members of my host family and my own family so it’s always nice to play at home.
“Playing at home is great but also tough. There is always a little bit more pressure but I’m just trying to enjoy it. We normally only get one opportunity, so the addition of this event is amazing.”
“The thing I’ve learned from the Irish Open is to just really enjoy it. Take it in and enjoy having the crowd on your side.”
Mehaffey is joined by her fiancé Mikey Boal on the bag, who has been aside her all season where she has played between the LET and LETAS.
Her highest finish has been tied 33rd at Madaef Golfs Ladies Open back in April, so today could mark a turning point in her season.
“I putted well today, that’s been a struggle recently, so it was nice to have a run like that today. If there is something I want to go and do some work on it’ll just be a couple of tee shots.”
Spain’s Maria Herraez Galvez and Malaysia’s Ainil Bakar tied for fifth on three-under-par.
Four players tied for seventh on two-under-par: France’s Lucie Andre, the latest LETAS winner Anna Backman, England’s Thalia Martin and Australia’s Whitney Hillier.
Elswhere Scotland’s Kirsty Mitchell had a hole-in-one on the 17th. With the hole measuring 152 yards all it took was a 6-Iron, and one bounce to land the Scottish player her first tournament ace.
The second round of the Women’s Irish Challenge will start at 8:15am local time.
At the end of the day there will be a cut to the top 45 professionals and ties after 36 holes.
Scoring HERE
