Casandra Alexander showed everyone why she’s the Ladies European Tour’s number one player on day one at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open firing a course record nine-under-par 63 in wet conditions to lead by four shots.
After Alessandra Fanali set the pace with a 67 at The K-Club’s Palmer South Course, Alexander got off to an electric start in Ireland, birdieing three of her first four holes at the first, third and fourth.
Another followed at the eight 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 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.
“I actually thought I was only seven-under,” the Order of Merit leader said. “I wanted to look at the leaderboard but I thought let’s just play. Afterwards I saw what I scored and thought, ‘oh, that was good!’ I think it’s important to stay patient in conditions like this. I went with the flow and kept it in the right places.
“I made a lot of putts, still left a couple out there but I’m hitting the ball nicely. Glad to see the work I did at home to get back on track has paid off. I think the standout today was definitely my wedges. I hit my wedges really close. I’ve come short so many times this season so I thought I might as well get out there and give myself a head start this time.“
Alexander, a one-time winner on the LET, is enjoying a stellar 2026 campaign registering five runner-up finishes on the circuit and another on the Sunshine Ladies Tour. She also finished T10 at Europe’s major, the Amundi Evian Championship.
Since then, however, the world number 38 has had a difficult summer by her own high standards, missing cuts at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open and PIF London Championship alongside a T68 at the AIG Women’s Open. She returned home following the run to reset ahead of this week’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
“I was able to spend some time with friends and family,” Alexander explained, whose sole win on the LET came last year at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open. “Just getting back to the drawing board after not such a great run in the UK. I think it’s important to step back and evaluate. I think that’s what I’ve done and I’m glad I did. It’s just refining, not big changes.
“Golf is hard. It’s a tough game. Some courses suit you and some don’t. I’m obviously still trying to get that win but it takes more than just good golf. Everything has to come together to win.”
In a tie for second sit Fanali from Italy, England’s Lily May Humphreys, Czech Republic’s Jana Melichova, and the Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson.
Caitlyn Macnab was in a share of 20th after her opening one-under-par 71 together with, amongst others, Cara Gorlei. Gabrielle Venter was on one-over in a share of 53rd.
