England’s Mimi Rhodes, a three-time winner on the Ladies European Tour this year, finished one under par for the tournament and capped her Women’s Open debut with an astonishing hole-in-one on the par-three fifth.
Playing partner Steph Kyriacou, who had recorded an ace of her own at the eighth on Friday, struck her tee shot to within a couple of inches of the pin.
Rhodes’ effort shortly afterwards was tracking just to the left of the cup, but her ball collided with Kyriacou’s and deflected into the hole.
The 23-year-old said: “I hit a really good eight iron, right where I wanted it to. I wasn’t expecting it to go in so I just picked up my tee and I heard everyone going crazy.
“It was more loud than usual so I knew something had happened. Then we just walked up to the green and it was in the hole.
“I had no idea it hit Steph’s ball until I just saw the video, so that’s unbelievable.”
Rhodes was one of four English players who were within six shots of Yamashita’s lead at the end of the third round.
Georgia Hall, the 2018 champion, ended alongside Rhodes in a tie for 19th place, while pre-tournament favourite Lottie Woad was three shots better off to finish in a tie for eighth place.
