It might be a Wednesday, and Saturday may be more widely regarded as the traditional “moving day” in golf, but the fifth round of the Qualifying School Final Stage represented the penultimate chance for the remaining 70 competitors to make a break for the crucial top 30 and the prize of a European Tour card for next season.

In a week where there as many fairy-tale stories as there are tales of woe, young Jordi Garcia Pinto of Spain has been penning his own astonishing narrative at PGA Catalunya Resort after a four under par round of 68 today took the local man to ten under par for the tournament and currently into a tie for 15th place.

Garcia Pinto lives just a five minute drive from PGA Catalunya Resort, in nearby Girona, and a small crowd has been keenly following the progress of the Catalonian since the start of the Final Stage marathon back on Saturday – progress that, barring a final day disaster, could well lead to one of the hardest-fought cards won in Qualifying School history.

The 21 year old, who finished tied 11th in the First Stage of Qualifying School at Bogogno, Italy, way back in September, was only the fourth reserve for the final Stage in northern Spain after losing out in a play-off at El Valle Golf Resort in Murcia in the Second Stage, having carded a triple bogey at the third hole of the tie-breaker.

But after some pre-event withdrawals, the Spaniard was given a chance to shine in his local province as the last man in, and has since refused to look back having shot 71-63-72-72-68 in this year’s gruelling final test.

One more round of a similar calibre would give Garcia Pinto an excellent chance of securing one of the 30 lucrative and coveted European Tour cards that will be confirmed come this time tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Argentinian Emiliano Grillo, who made the cut by one stroke at five under par, has surged up the leaderboard into a tie for 12th place after signing for a best of the day round of 65, despite carding a bogey at the tenth hole – his first – of the Stadium Course.

The 19 year old, who only turned pro earlier this year, is the second youngest player in the field after Adrian Otaegui and, like Garcia Pinto, has also participated at every stage of this year’s Qualifying School. A streak of birdies at the 12th, 13th and 14th holes preceded a homeward run of 31 that featured five fine birdies.

Dutchman Reinier Saxton also made the cut at five under par, and an excellent six under par round of 66 in Wednesday’s fifth round propelled the 23 year old to 14th place in the overall standings, and in with a good chance of making the top 30 in the final round.

Of those going the wrong way at PGA Catalunya Resort, Englishman Benn Barham had a tough day at the office after posting a seven over par 79 to drop from a tie for 15th place after the fourth round into a tie for 57th; while his fellow countryman Jordan Gibb also struggled, a five over par 77 leaving the 25 year old in a tie for 39th place and with work to do on Thursday.

And now, with one day to go, the Qualifying School athletes are entering the closing miles of this year’s marathon, and the finish line is in sight. Who will stride on to victory in the final furlong, and who will fall at the last fence?

A thrilling climax is in prospect.