Casandra Alexander showed everyone why she’s the Ladies European Tour (LET)’s number one player on day one at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open firing a course record 63 (-9) in wet conditions to lead by four shots.
After Alessandra Fanali set the pace with a 67 (-5) at The K Club’s Palmer South Course, Alexander got off to an electric start in Ireland birdying three of her first four holes at the 1st, 3rd and 4th.
Another followed at the 8th before the big-hitting South African went on a tear on the back-nine carding birdies at the 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th and 18th to complete a scintillating performance.
The 63 (-9) is a course record on the Palmer South at the iconic K Club in Ireland. It is also Alexander’s lowest round of the 2026 season.
COURSE RECORD‼️
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 27, 2026
Cass fires a stunning bogey-free 63 (-9) to set a new course record on the K Club Palmer South Course.#KPMGWIO pic.twitter.com/dYzZkLNnfa
In a tie for second sit the beforementioned Fanali from Italy, England’s Lily May Humphreys, Czech Republic’s Jana Melichova, and the Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson.
Three players share sixth position after day one with England’s Annabell Fuller, Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist and Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova all sitting on four-under par.
On the home front, rookie Aine Donegan produced the performance of the day opening with a round of 69 (-3) in the afternoon to sit T9.
Solheim Cup winner Leona Maguire opened with a round of 71 (-1) at The K Club – the venue she delivered the Ryder Cup to the winning European side back in 2006 as an 11-year-old.
Elsewhere on day one in Ireland, there was a hole-in-one bonanza in the morning as English duo Cara Gainer and Jess Baker, plus France’s Emma Falcher all recorded aces on the Palmer South Course.
Gainer made the first hole-in-one of her career on the 2nd while Baker and Falcher holed out on the 12th and 8th respectively.