Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen will take a one-stroke lead into the ultimate spherical of the Rolex Problem Tour Grand Closing supported by The R&A, after producing a sensational ten below par spherical of 62 on shifting day.
The Dane fired ten birdies and not using a blemish to achieve 22 below par for the week at Membership de Golf Alcanada and lead by one from in a single day chief Angel Ayora from Spain.
The 25-year-old earned automated promotion to the DP World Tour in September after securing three wins on the 2024 Street to Mallorca, and he’s now seeking to earn his fourth victory of the marketing campaign and grow to be simply the second Danish winner of the Rolex Problem Tour Grand Closing after Marcus Helligkilde in 2021.
Neergaard-Petersen began the day 5 pictures off the lead, however obtained off to the right begin, closing the hole to Ayora on the high by carding three birdies in his opening 5 holes.
Whereas Ayora might solely make the flip in stage par, Neergaard-Petersen added a fourth acquire of the day on the ninth to cut back the deficit to at least one as he headed to the again 9.
Neergaard-Petersen then climbed into the outright lead for the primary time in Mallorca with birdies on the tenth and eleventh, earlier than making three in a row from the thirteenth, and a closing birdie on 18 to ensure of his place on the high.
CAN HE EMULATE THOMAS BJORN
The 25-year-old is projected to climb to the highest of the Street to Mallorca Rankings and would grow to be the fourth participant from Denmark to be topped Problem Tour Quantity One after Helligkilde (2021), Joachim B Hansen (2018) and Thomas Bjørn (1995).
“I performed nice in the present day and felt lots higher than yesterday,” he mentioned. “I obtained the putter rolling, particularly on the again 9, and it was enjoyable to be on the market.
“The entire level of me being right here this week is to complete on the high of the Rankings, and I knew I used to be going to should go low to meet up with Angel as a result of he’s taking part in nice.
“I stored it actually easy in the present day and made positive to reap the benefits of the straightforward holes and the par fives. I made some nice putts and hit a number of wedges fairly shut. I’m happy with my sport in the present day and it was nice to make ten birdies.
“Angel is taking part in nice and he seeking to get that Quantity One spot too. It’s going to be thrilling for everybody tomorrow and I’m actually trying ahead to it.”
HOT ON HIS HEELS
Ayora stays in rivalry for a second win of the season although after firing again late on day three. The 20-year-old combined three birdies with three bogeys on the entrance 9, earlier than making 4 birdies on the again 9 and not using a bogey to signal for a 4 below par spherical of 68 and keep one again.
The Spaniard would want to win the Rolex Grand Closing and depend on Neergaard-Petersen ending no increased than third if he’s to high the Rankings, and by doing so he would grow to be the youngest Problem Tour Quantity One in historical past.
Kristoffer Reitan matched Ayora’s spherical of 68 to achieve 19 below par, three pictures off the lead in third place. The Norwegian, who started the week thirty sixth within the Street to Mallorca Rankings, is projected to climb to nineteenth ought to he stay in third place, which might earn him promotion to the DP World Tour.
Oliver Lindell from Finland sits in solo fourth on 11 below par, whereas Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist who’s one other at present projected to climb into the promotion locations, sits in a share of fifth on ten below par alongside Englishman Ben Schmidt and Danish duo Hamish Brown and Nicolai Kristensen.
FINAL ROUND DETAILS
The ultimate spherical of the Rolex Problem Tour Grand Closing will get below manner at 8:00am native time with Neergaard-Petersen teeing off alongside Ayora at 12:05pm.
