The Japanese Miyu Yamashita wins the first major at Women’s, while Steph Kyriacou finishes the top 10 in Australia.
Media release via Jimmy Emanuel in Golf Australia
The last round of Steph Kyriacou could not have started a much worse start on Sunday of the AIG Women’s Open, but a gritty and determined fightingback saw her a third consecutive consecutive underparri round to secure Australian bragging rights at Royal Porthcawl.
Kyriacou eventually signed for a 1-under 71 and 4-year-old tournament total to share eighth, two shots for Minjee Lee who was 13th, with the couple well back from the first time big winner Japan’s Miyu Yamashita on 11-Under.
After she flushed her ride of the first tee, Kyriacou got her second shot with the strongest winds of the week to help it on her way outside the borders and a final triple bogey when she hoped for a hot start.
“The first hole was pretty rough. It is not ideal if you hit your second ball OB, on the beach,” she said laughing.
“I stayed there, showed some grit and finished 1-under today. I am very happy.”
There was another fallen shot on the third before the 24-year-old was involved in her second hole-in-one this week after making her own bait on Friday.
Almost the performance repeated on the par-3 fifth on Sunday, her ball inches ended before she was unintentionally used by Playing Partner, and Ford Women’s NSW Open winner, Mimi Rhodes to reach her own bait.
“I am,” Kyriacou joked when he was asked if she creates happiness for everyone on the track.
“We actually just watched the video, and it got my ball, and it went in. So I claim it a bit, although Mimi probably won’t say that.”
Kyriacou tapped Birdie and reached the par-5 ninth in two with a brilliant fairway wood from the left rough and converted for Birdie, before he made another one on the 13th and finally escaped the difficult end of Royal Porthcawl intact.
Par On the 16th came through another Fairway wood, which was again in use to find the 17th Green and a Birdie. An achievement that she could not repeat on the 18th after she took the crowd to move a fence to allow Kyriacou to hit her third shot.
“I hit the 16th Green, which helps if you have a 5-wood in hand. I Birdiied 17, which is nice. I don’t have Birdie 18, what sucks, but I take the bird at 17,” said Kyriacou.
“I got something from my day. I am really proud of how I appeared for the rest of the day.”
The Sydneysider, who was cut in four of the five Majors in 2025, Trump Lee and the other members of the Australian Contingent.
“It’s pretty good. There is nothing wrong with friendly competition, but I don’t have the victory yet. So if I do, I will be a little more arrogant, I think,” she joked that she led the Australians.
It was also a slow start for Lee, who was the first group for Kyriacou Bogey, before he immediately got the shot back at the next.
Lee hit Fairways and Greens on the front nine and could only convert a bird to the heavy par-5-six-six-six-sided.
Again, a bogey on the 11th was compensated by Birdie at the age of 13 before a double bogey on the descent 14th this year stops claims for a third big top 10.
“I feel that that is probably the worst score I could have had today. I felt that I was going pretty well and then just made a crazy mistake on 14. It was a kind of those weeks in which I was a bit in the middle, as if I wasn’t really great on some thing,” Lee said.
“I don’t complain that I would end up 13th or 14th, but yes, I would have liked to have wanted in the top 10.”
After he stopped talking to Young Girl from the back of the 17th Green about the soft-serve ice that she enjoyed, and later admitted that she wanted it herself, Lee put together a clinical bird for a semi-tournament total.
“I knew that I was too far back to win clearly. I really wanted to get into the top 10. Sometimes they don’t fall, especially around the left, and in the wind I think it is even more unpredictable.
“I felt that I have a number of things that I can work on today and all week.”
The 29-year-old Western Australian gives herself good grades for the big year while she focuses on the seasonal hose race to Cme Globe Points list with the Rolex Annika Major Award 2025 for the second time and became the first winner of several time.
“I’m going to say that I did reasonably well. Maybe as an 8 ½ (out of 10),” Lee judged her great achievements. “
Grace Kim was completed with the Australians and ended a tough weekend and played on Sunday in the most difficult circumstances of the day, with a Birdie on the latter to end up on 12-over, while the title defense of Kiwi Lydia Ko yielded a 36th share.
Australasian scores
T8 Steph Kyriacou, -4
T13 Minjee Lee, -2
T36 Lydia Ko Ko, +3
T67 Grace Kim, +12
MC Gabi Callls, +3
MC Amelia Garvey, +3
MC HIRA NAVEED, +5
MC Momoka Kobori, +7
MC Cassie Porter, +8
MC Karis Davidson, +9
MC Hannah Green, +12
MC Kirsten Rudgely, +13
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