A dramatic final day is in store tomorrow as 295 players battle it out for 80 places in the Qualifying School Final and the contest is hotting up after an action packed day of golf in southern Spain.
The Netherlands’ Tim Sluiter today took control of the Second Stage of Qualifying School being held atLas Colinas Golf and Country Clubafter a stunning final stretch that saw the Dutchman grasp a two shot lead going into tomorrow’s final round.
After 11 holes, Sluiter was level par for the day after earlier birdies on the front nine were cancelled out by bogeys at the tenth and 11th holes, however, an inspired final seven holes saw the Enschedse born man make five birdies – including four back-to-back over the final four holes to go to 13 under par.
The exhilarating finale saw Sluiter seize a two shot advantage over Englishman Ben Evans who propelled himself up the leaderboard with an excellent bogey-free six under par 65 that included four birdies on the front nine in what was a stirring putting performance.
Ben Barham, a two-time winner on the Challenge Tour, led by two shots after the second round after a pair of 66s, but the Englishman laboured to a one over par 72 today, leaving himself four shots off the pace going into Monday’s climax.
Joakim Lagergren continued his scintillating form atEl Valle Golf Resortto lead by a considerable five shots after posting a six under par 65 in the third round.
After securing a course record 63 in Friday’s opening round, Sweden’s Lagergren yesterday followed up with a two under par 69 before today’s unblemished round left the Challenge Tour member flying high at 16 under par and five shots clear of Scotland’s Callum Macaulay.
The 20 year old Lagergren made four birdies, at the first, third, seventh and ninth holes in what was a superb front nine before coming home in two under par thanks to birdies at the 16th and 17th holes.
Macaulay, who finished 49th in the 2011 Challenge Tour Order of Merit, propelled himself five places up the leaderboard after an excellent day’s work that matched leader Lagergren’s 65 to go to 11 under par, while his compatriot Alan McLean sits another two shots further back after scoring a best of the day 64 that featured eight birdies and one bogey.
Argentinian Emiliano Grillo shot an incredible ten under par 62 in the third round atCosta Ballena Ocean Clubto take a share of lead going into Monday’s final round.
Thomas Nørret of Denmark also carded an astonishing nine birdies and an eagle to eventually make a nine under par 63 and join Grillo at the peak of the leaderboard at 13 under par following Sunday’s play.
Both men could have potentially – and unbelievably – gone even lower, as Nørret dropped shots at the par three sixth hole and the closing par four 18th, while Grillo made just the one bogey in his stunning round, at the par five fifth hole.
Englishmen Sam Hutsby and Jason Levermore will tee off tomorrow just one shot behind the co-leaders at twelve under par, after finishing the third round with a three under par 69 and a five under par 67 respectively.
One shot further back ahead of the crucial fourth round are Englishman Luke Goddard and South African Justin Walters, the latter making strides up the leaderboard after an excellent seven under par 65 that included three birdies on the front nine and a further four coming home.
Graeme A Clark continued an excellent week in Cartagena after a three under par round of 70 today was enough to secure a one shot lead ahead of the final round atLa Manga Club.
Coming off the back of Friday’s 66 and yesterday’s 69, Englishman Clark had a shaky start after dropping a shot at the par four third hole, but birdies at the fourth, sixth, ninth, tenth, 13th and 17th holes negated three bogeys – at the aforementioned third, fifth and the closing 18th hole.
Clark’s efforts left him 14 under par for the tournament at the close of play today, and one clear of South African Allan Versfeld who bounced back with an excellent eight under par 65 after yesterday carding a disappointing second round 75.
Versfeld had held a share of the lead with Clark following Friday’s opening round and certainly found that form again today to sit one shot off the lead ahead of the final round tomorrow.
Andrea Perrino is certainly also still in contention at La Manga, despite slipping two places to third after the Italian signed for a one under par 72, while a further two shots back at ten under par is Englishman James Ruth who today shot an faultless five under par 68 to climb six places going into Monday.
Over 300 players, across four venues in the south of Spain, are this week bidding for a place in the Final Stage of Qualifying School due to be held at PGA Catalunya, Spain, from December 10-15.
The field for the Final Qualifying Stage will now be made up of 76 exempt players and 80 qualifiers with currently 20 spots being available from each of the four venues. These are current figures and may change as a result of further withdrawals.
