SUTTON COLDFIELD, England — California's Andrew Rodriguez seized control of the boys' division with a 3-under-par opening round on Tuesday, while Wales international Isobel Kelly and Isabella Fernandez share the girls' lead at 1-over-par after the first round of the UNDERRATED Golf European Tour at The Belfry.
The four-time Ryder Cup host is providing exactly the kind of test the field expected, with thick rough and demanding tee shots punishing anything off line. Rodriguez, an 18-year-old playing off a +4 handicap, navigated it best on Day 1.
I was driving the ball really well today and I was able to put myself into a great position to make a lot of putts. I am feeling really confident about tomorrow — just go and finish the job and hopefully get the win. Andrew Rodriguez — Boys' Leader, −3
Rodriguez got off to a fast start, opening with a birdie and getting to three-under through five before the back nine tightened.
“Things started to settle down a little bit going into the back nine, with a couple of birdies and a couple of bogeys, but overall it feels like it was a pretty good round,” he said. A bogey on the closing hole was the only blemish he seemed concerned about, though he was quick to put it in perspective. “It was a shame to finish with a bogey on the last but you have to look at the bigger picture really.”
The Belfry's defenses, he said, start in the fairway and finish in the rough. “The course is playing tough because you have to find your position from the tee, and the rough around the green is pretty penal; it might not look it but it's tough because your ball will sit down, so you just have to keep it on the fairway off the tee.”
Rodriguez, a Curry Cup finalist last season, heads into the final round with a one-shot lead over Jordan Brown (E) and a two-shot cushion over Jenson Ringer and Daniil Sokolov, who are tied for third at 1-over. Oliver Aspinall and Aayan Dadabhoy — last year's Fairmont St Andrews winner — sit tied for fifth at 2-over.
Kelly Back in Familiar Territory
On the girls' side, Isobel Kelly is in a position she knows well. The Wales international and 2024 girls' Curry Cup champion shot 1-over-par to share the lead with Isabella Fernandez.
Kelly, who is balancing her golf with A-Level revision and a recent trip to the South American Amateur in Argentina, leaned on course management rather than power off the tee.
The course is tough and you need to do your planning; you can't just hit the driver all the time. The rough is very thick and deep, and I am not really used to it as most of my golf is played at Hollinwell, which is a heathland course. Isobel Kelly — Girls' Co-Leader, +1
The 18-year-old says her Curry Cup experience will help her handle the pressure of Wednesday's final round. “There isn't so much pressure, having won the Curry Cup in 2024 helps to handle that and when you have been in contention. There will be nerves but you expect that if I am honest.”
Her game plan won't shift dramatically — with one notable exception. “I don't think I will change my approach much; I may change it on the 17th [dogleg par-5] as I don't think I will look to cut the trees but rather will play it as a three-shotter.”
Shania Valentina Breinhoelder is alone in third at 2-over, with 2025 Curry Cup champion Julia Herzberg in fourth at 4-over. Myla Robinson — last year's Foxhills winner — and Sommer Chan are tied for fifth at 5-over.
Round 1 Leaderboards
| Pos | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Rodriguez | −3 |
| 2 | Jordan Brown | E |
| T3 | Jenson Ringer | +1 |
| T3 | Daniil Sokolov | +1 |
| T5 | Oliver Aspinall | +2 |
| T5 | Aayan Dadabhoy | +2 |
| Pos | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | Isabella Fernandez | +1 |
| T1 | Isobel Kelly | +1 |
| 3 | Shania Valentina Breinhoelder | +2 |
| 4 | Julia Herzberg | +4 |
| T5 | Myla Robinson | +5 |
| T5 | Sommer Chan | +5 |
| 7 | Brianna-Simone Ngecu | +9 |
Fujikura: A Partner in the Mission
The week at The Belfry marks the first event of the 2026 season under an expanded multi-year partnership between the UNDERRATED Golf Tour and Fujikura Composites America, the global leader in high-performance golf shaft innovation. After supporting the Tour's US events in 2025, Fujikura's commitment now extends across the full global schedule through 2027 — including the European leg for the first time.
That support is on full display this week, with Fujikura's fitting team on the ground at The Belfry providing the same Tour-level driver and wood shaft-fitting service used by the world's elite professionals — delivered directly to junior athletes.
We want to give as many players as possible the best opportunities to play to their very best — and to help spread the message that everybody can grow through golf. David Schnider — President & CEO, Fujikura
The alignment matters because diverse communities remain significantly underrepresented in golf — less than 2% of all golfers identify as Black or LatinX — a statistic UNDERRATED Golf was founded to change.
Fujikura has been an incredible partner because they understand that access is about more than simply getting young players on a golf course. By bringing custom-fitting and Tour-level expertise directly to our junior athletes, Fujikura is helping us create an environment where these young golfers can compete, grow and see what is possible for themselves in this game. Jason Richards — Athletic Director, UNDERRATED Golf
Looking Ahead
The 18-hole final round goes off Wednesday at The Belfry, with the boys' and girls' winners earning the UNDERRATED Golf European Trophy and automatic spots in the season-ending Curry Cup — the Tour Championship — back in the United States.
