“South Africa’s Casandra Alexander heads into the final round of the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open, sharing the lead at nine-under-par after a dramatic second-round 68 at Golf Club Milano. Alexander is level with Sweden’s Moa Folke and Germany’s Alexandra Försterling, with the trio three shots ahead of a group of five players as the tournament reaches its decisive final round.”
Casandra Alexander in contention for another Ladies European Tour title
South African golf has another major international storyline to follow on Sunday as Casandra Alexander enters the final round of the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open in a share of the lead. The Johannesburg-born golfer produced another competitive performance at Golf Club Milano in Monza, Italy, carding a four-under-par 68 in the second round to reach nine-under-par overall. She now has 18 holes remaining in her attempt to add another Ladies European Tour title to an already successful 2026 season.
Alexander’s position at the top of the leaderboard is particularly significant because the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open has attracted a strong international field. The tournament features leading players from the Ladies European Tour, including several golfers high on the season’s Order of Merit. The 2026 edition is being played over three rounds at Golf Club Milano, with 120 players originally entered and a €350,000 prize fund.
For South African followers, however, the main focus is Alexander. The 27-year-old has established herself as one of the leading players on the Ladies European Tour this season, and her performance in Italy continues a run of strong results.
A dramatic second round
Alexander began the tournament strongly, sharing the first-round lead after opening with a five-under-par 67. The official Ladies European Tour scoring records confirm that she finished the opening round on 67, alongside Noora Komulainen, Patricie Mackova and Alexandra Försterling.
Her second round was considerably more eventful.
Starting the day near the top of the leaderboard, Alexander remained firmly in contention throughout her round. She recorded five birdies and one bogey during her opening 10 holes, putting herself in a position to move clear of the field.
The turning point came at the par-five 14th hole. After dropping a shot at the 13th, Alexander responded with an eagle at the 14th. The spectacular recovery briefly put the South African outright at the top of the leaderboard. According to Compleat Golfer, she hit a four-iron into the hole and then followed that major gain with another birdie at the 15th.
However, the closing stretch brought further drama.
Alexander dropped shots at the 16th and 17th holes before making par at the final hole. Instead of finishing several shots clear, she ended the day level with Folke and Försterling on nine-under-par.
The South African described the round as a “rollercoaster”, while emphasizing that she was satisfied with the position she had secured heading into the final day.
That resilience could become important in the final round. With only 18 holes remaining, the tournament remains open, and the leading players will have to manage both the pressure of contention and the demands of Golf Club Milano.
Folke and Försterling provide strong competition
Alexander will not be alone at the top.
Sweden’s Moa Folke produced the lowest round among the leaders on Saturday, shooting an impressive seven-under-par 65. Her score moved her from two-under after the opening round to nine-under overall. She finished her second round strongly, making three consecutive birdies from the 16th hole.
Folke is still searching for her first Ladies European Tour victory, making Sunday’s final round an important opportunity in her career. She has nevertheless shown strong form during the tournament, and her second-round 65 means she enters the final day with significant momentum.
Germany’s Alexandra Försterling also finished on nine-under-par. She followed her opening-round 67 with a 68, featuring five birdies and one bogey. Her consistency has placed her alongside Alexander and Folke at the top of the leaderboard.
Försterling has already demonstrated her ability to compete near the top of Ladies European Tour events. Her previous results this season include runner-up finishes, while her last LET victory came at the 2024 Amundi German Masters.
The three-way tie therefore creates a fascinating final-round contest, with each player bringing a different route to the leaderboard.
A tightly packed chasing group
Although the leaders have a three-shot advantage, they cannot afford to become complacent.
Five players are tied at six-under-par and occupy the next position on the leaderboard. The group includes Anna Morgan, Cara Gainer, Alice Hewson, Dorothea Forbrigd and Pia Babnik.
Lois Lau is another shot behind at five-under-par.
That means the tournament could change quickly if one of the players near the top makes a mistake or one of the chasing golfers produces a low final round.
The situation also places additional importance on the opening holes of Sunday’s round. A fast start could immediately change the complexion of the leaderboard, while mistakes could bring several players back into contention.
Alexander’s strong 2026 season
Alexander’s position in Italy is another indication of the progress she has made during 2026.
Before arriving at Golf Club Milano, she had already established herself as the leading player on the Ladies European Tour’s Order of Merit. The Federation Italiana Golf identified her as the No. 1 player heading into the Italian Open and noted that she had already won the KPMG Women’s Irish Open during the season. She had also recorded nine top-10 finishes from 16 LET appearances.
Her Irish Open victory was particularly important because it was her second Ladies European Tour title.
The current Italian Open challenge therefore represents another opportunity for Alexander to add to a season that has already produced significant achievements.
Her broader professional record also includes success on the Sunshine Tour and a strong performance in the AIG Women’s Open. The R&A’s player profile records her Sunshine Tour victories and notes that she won the Joburg Open in 2021, while her best major result came with a tie for seventh at the 2024 AIG Women’s Open.
The importance of Golf Club Milano
The setting is also an important part of the story.
Golf Club Milano, located within the Parco di Monza, is hosting the 28th edition of the Ladies Italian Open. The tournament returned to the venue as part of the 2026 Ladies European Tour calendar, bringing some of Europe’s leading female golfers together for the three-round competition.
The course has already produced significant movement on the leaderboard. The second round saw Folke shoot 65, while Alexander and Försterling both posted 68s.
The tournament has also attracted strong spectator interest. Golf & Turismo reported a notable crowd around the course during the second day, particularly near the ninth and 18th greens.
The event is also connected with wider efforts to promote women’s golf in Italy. The Italian Golf Federation and Buccellati have partnered around the tournament, with organizers highlighting the development and visibility of women’s golf.
South African interest extends beyond Alexander
Alexander is not the only South African presence in the tournament.
Caitlyn Macnab is also part of the field, while other South African golfers have competed on the Ladies European Tour during the season. Alexander’s success, however, has placed South Africa prominently in the international conversation surrounding this week’s tournament.
Her position at the top is particularly notable because the field contains players from numerous countries and several highly ranked competitors.
The final round will therefore provide another opportunity for South African golf to make an impact on the international stage.
What to expect in the final round
The final round is set up for a close contest.
Alexander, Folke and Försterling will begin from nine-under-par, while five players sit at six-under and Lau is at five-under. The gap is small enough for the chasing group to put pressure on the leaders if they can produce low scores.
For Alexander, the challenge will be to combine the attacking golf that produced her eagle at the 14th with the control required during the closing holes.
Her second round demonstrated both sides of that challenge. She moved into outright contention through a sequence of birdies and an eagle, but consecutive bogeys at the 16th and 17th prevented her from finishing alone at the top.
The final round could therefore come down to execution over the closing stretch.
Alexander has already shown that she can handle the pressure of winning on the Ladies European Tour this season. Now, she has another opportunity to compete for the title, with 18 holes separating her from another potential victory.
For South African golf supporters, Sunday’s final round will be one to watch closely. The country’s leading women’s golfer enters the closing day of the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open tied for first at nine-under-par, with two international rivals beside her and a group of challengers waiting within striking distance.
The final result will be determined over the remaining 18 holes, but Alexander’s position ensures that South Africa will have a central interest in the conclusion of the tournament.
