Sweden's Oliver Lilliedahl won Stage 3 of the NEXT World Series, the play-off format of the Trackman-powered NEXT Golf Tour, to strengthen his position in the race for DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour opportunities.
Knowing a very low score would be required to contend, Lilliedahl delivered in style with a sensational final-round 61 to claim victory at Adare Manor.
“At some point, someone is going to shoot 59 on the NEXT Golf Tour,” he said beforehand.
While that number wasn’t needed this time, his 11-under-par round proved enough to secure a one-shot win over Czech contender Simon Zach.
Lilliedahl produced a remarkable performance, highlighted by three eagles.
One came via a hole-out wedge shot from 74 yards on the 10th hole, while the decisive moment arrived on Adare Manor’s demanding 550-yard par-5 18th.
Needing an eagle to win, Lilliedahl took an aggressive line left of the water, hit his second shot from 260 yards to 14 feet, and calmly holed the putt.
“It was such a relief holing that putt,” Lilliedahl said after the round.
The victory marks Lilliedahl’s first since Round 1 of Season 2 at Marco Simone, host venue of the 2023 Ryder Cup.
He now adds a second Ryder Cup venue to his list of wins, with Adare Manor set to host the event in 2027.
The result places him firmly at the top of the Season 4 Order of Merit and makes him the leading contender to earn the season’s ultimate prize: a DP World Tour start and six HotelPlanner Tour starts.
Lilliedahl now has more than $87,000 in career earnings on the NEXT Golf Tour.
“The NEXT Golf Tour has meant everything to me and my career”, the Nordic Golf League player said.
“I am not sure I would still be playing golf, if I hadn’t won back in season 2. The money is such a big help in planning for the new season on the Nordic League”, Lilliedahl said after his win.
Zach looked set for victory after posting two rounds of 65 to reach 14 under par, holding the lead until late in the playing window.
He was ultimately edged out by Lilliedahl’s late surge but showed class in defeat, congratulating the Swede on social media.
“Congrats buddy, impressive round, great stuff”, he commented.
Finland’s Kim Koivu, a former DP World Tour player and NEXT Qualifier winner, finished solo third at 12 under par, keeping his hopes alive of challenging for the Order of Merit lead at the season-ending NEXT Golf Tour Championship.
Denmark’s Mads Heller once again led the amateurs, carding rounds of 68 and 65 to finish in a six-way tie for fourth, continuing his strong season against elite professional competition.
With the NEXT Golf Tour Championship set to begin on February 10th, the focus now turns to the final opportunity for players to convert strong performances into tangible pathways toward the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour — a mission at the very core of the NEXT World Series.
The course for the NEXT Golf Tour Championship will be revealed next week.
You can follow the action and see every shot from every player on nextgolftour.com.
