Neergaard-Petersen in good shape to defend Rolex Grand Final and Rankings double – Golf News

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A, after producing an impressive ten under par 62 on the day.

Dan fired 10 flawless birdies to reach 22 under for the week at Club de Golf Alcanada and lead by one on overnight leader Angel Ayora of Spain.

The 25-year-old earned automatic promotion to the DP World Tour in September after winning three times at the 2024 Road to Mallorca, and is now looking to claim his fourth victory of the campaign and become Denmark’s second Rolex winner. Challenge Tour Grand Final after Marcus Helligkilde in 2021.

Neergaard-Petersen started the day five shots off the lead, but got off to a good start, closing the gap on Ayora at the top by carding three birdies in his opening five holes.

While Ayora was able to turn the score into a tie, Neergaard-Petersen added his fourth advantage of the day in the ninth to cut the deficit to one as he heads into the back nine.

Neergaard-Petersen then surged into the lead for the first time in Mallorca with birdies at the 10th and 11th, before making three in a row from the 13th, and closing birdies at the 18th to confirm his place at the top.

HE CAN ACT THOMAS BJORN

The 25-year-old is expected to climb to the top of the Road to Mallorca Rankings and will become the fourth player from Denmark to be crowned Challenge Tour Number One after Helligkilde (2021), Joachim B Hansen (2018) and Thomas Bjørn (1995).

“I played well today and I felt much better than yesterday,” he said. “I got the putter rolling, especially on the back 9, and it was nice to be there.

“My whole purpose for being here this week is to finish at the top of the Rankings, and I knew that I would have to go down to catch Angel because he is playing well.

“I kept it really easy today and made sure I hit the easy holes and the par fives. I made some good putts and hit a lot of wedges very close. I was happy with my game today and it was nice to make ten birdies.

“Angel is playing well and wants to get first place. It’s going to be exciting for everyone tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it.”

HOT IN HIS BONES

Ayora is still in contention for his second win of the season after a night shootout on day three. The 20-year-old mixed three birdies and three bogeys on the front, before making four birdies on the back nine without a bogey to post a four-under-par round of 68 and stay one back.

The Spaniard will need to win the Rolex Grand Final and rely on Neergaard-Petersen finishing no higher than third if he is to top the Rankings, and in doing so he will become the youngest Challenge Tour Number One in history.

Kristoffer Reitan matched Ayora’s round of 68 to move to 19 under par, three shots off the lead at third place. The Norwegian, who started week 36 in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, is expected to move up to 19th if he finishes third, which would earn him a promotion to the DP World Tour.

Oliver Lindell of Finland sits alone in fourth place at 11 under par, while Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist, who is currently in the running for promotion, sits in fifth place at 10 under par alongside England’s Ben Schmidt and Danish pair Hamish Brown. and Nicolai Kristensen.

LAST CIRCLE DETAILS

The final round of the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final will start at 8:00am local time with Neergaard-Petersen coming out alongside Ayora at 12:05pm.