What a Sunday. The dream finale. If anyone from the Challenge Tour had been told before the tournament started that the star match of the final day would be led by Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (-22) and Ángel Ayora (-21), they would have signed up without hesitation. A duel for victory and for the Road to Mallorca. Little more could be asked for.
The future cannot be known, but it seems like the first great battle between two players who are aiming very high in this sport and who seem destined to face each other in numerous encounters in the coming years.
On moving day, the Dane has laid all his cards on the table, matching the course record that Ayora himself set just two days ago. A round of 62 strokes for a total of 22 under par. Ten birdies without error and without a hint of doubt or fatigue after a year that has been very long. He is playing his 33rd tournament of the season.
Rasmus is not satisfied. Winning three times on the Challenge in a single season and also securing the DP World Tour card through the Race to Dubai is not enough. He wants the ranking and, incidentally, the fourth.
At 26 years old and in his first full season on the circuit, the Dane is on the verge of something that hasn’t happened in the history of the Challenge Tour since Warren Bennett won five times in 1998. No player this century has achieved a poker of victories in a single season, and the player trained at Oklahoma State has it within reach.
However, standing in his way is Ángel Ayora, and he won’t make it easy. The 20-year-old from Marbella has signed a card of 68 strokes. It wasn’t a bad day, but Alcanada punishes mistakes, and a poor stretch between holes 5 and 9, with three bogeys included, combined with the Dane’s display, prevented him from finishing as the leader for the third consecutive day. Credit must be given to the Andalusian’s back nine, where he managed to claw back four strokes on the course and show that he doesn’t give up easily. He must be toppled.
It could be said that the last eight holes were a preview of what’s to come this Sunday. You hit, I hit. The Dane was signing birdie after birdie, and Ángel responded in the match behind in an astonishing manner. Five birdies from Rasmus, with an anthological recital on the greens, sinking putts from all corners, and four from Ángel. The player born in Niva was looking to knock out the Spaniard, but he fought back and returned the blows with one great shot after another. Rasmus started five strokes behind the leader and turned the tables. He starts with a one-stroke advantage over the Spaniard. But tomorrow will be another story.
Beyond the tournament fight is the battle for the Road to Mallorca. The calculations are clear. Ángel needs to win the tournament and for Kristoffer Reitan (-19) to crash the party and overtake the Dane. Otherwise, Rasmus will be the annual champion of the Challenge Tour.
Don’t count the Norwegian out of the fight. In this third round, he also made his mark. He arrived 36th in the Road to Mallorca and needs at least a fourth place to get into the top 22. He has put a lot of distance between himself and the fifth-placed players. In golf, nothing can be taken for granted, but Reitan seems to have the big goal in hand. His friend Ayora needs his help tomorrow. This isn’t cycling, and there’s no team effort, but surely Reitan would be more thrilled to see Ángel crowned, as they often work together, than Neergaard-Petersen.
All to play for. From 12:05 this Sunday in Alcanada, enjoy. A high-stakes appointment. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Ángel Ayora are set to delight with the first of many battles they are destined for.
