Casandra Alexander opened her 2025 Ladies European Tour season on Thursday with a one-under-par 72 in the first round of the Lalla Meryem Cup on the Blue Course of Royal Golf Dar Es in Rabat, Morocco.
Alexander, who shared seventh in a fine performance in last year’s AIG Women’s Open, made five birdies and four bogeys in the first round of the news season, and that put her in a share of 24th with 14 other players.
At the top of leaderboard, Brianna Navarossa fired a six-under-par 67 with an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys to lead by one from Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall and Ana Palaez Trivino of Spain.
Navarrosa got off to a dream start in her rookie season as she began her round with a birdie blitz of five back-to-back. “Honestly I just did shot by shot”, said Navarrosa. “There was a point where I was like, I don’t even know what’s really going on. I just know that I’m making my putts, so I just tried to stay present, focus on the shot in hand, and just keep playing.
“I really wanted to take advantage of the weather today with there being no wind,” she continued.
The 20-year-old was born and raised in Southern California but now lives in Paris with her boyfriend.
“One of my dreams was to travel, and being able to do that in the sport that I love is really exciting. To be able to experience new cultures as well, I feel very lucky. I was lucky enough to be invited to next week in Riyadh, so I’m really excited for that. I’ve never been to that part in the world.
“I would say my strengths are definitely accuracy and short game. I’m not a long hitter by any means and I’m quite short, so I’m relying on my accuracy and relying on making the putts when it’s needed.
“I’m just going to do what I did today, tomorrow. I know that I play my best golf when I just play like it’s another round of golf. I’m trying to not apply too much pressure, despite being a rookie, and despite having a wonderful first round. I’m just going to play and have fun with it.”
Nicole Garcia opened with a three-over-par 76 for a share of 71st, while Eswatini’s Nobuhle Dlamini had a level-par 73 for a share of 39th.
