There is a popular expression among young people that says: “I’ve completed the game.” It’s a saying that means when something is done perfectly, wonderfully, it couldn’t have been done better. Its origin comes from video games where you have to overcome different challenges (levels) until, by overcoming all the problems and twists, it is considered that you have completed the game. You’ve beaten the game itself.
Well, there is a 20-year-old youngster who applied it in golfing terms this Thursday. He has completed the game, and we’re only in the first round (level). Ángel Ayora has delivered a round of 62 strokes, a course record at Alcanada and the sole leader of the Challenge Tour Grand Final after the first 18 holes.
“It felt like a video game, everything went well for me, the truth is it was the dream start.” Indeed, nine birdies, an eagle, and a solitary birdie propel him to the top of the tournament. There’s no fault to be found in the round. He played well in all aspects of the course, although if he had to highlight something, it would be his iron play. “The greens were soft, which helped with the putt, but it was very difficult to calculate the backspin with the irons, and I think I managed to hit great shots.”
It’s true that it’s hard to find better playing conditions at Alcanada that allow for such low scores. The rain of recent days has made the greens not fast, and the wind, although present, hasn’t been as strong as it usually is. Playing temperature of about 20 degrees. No sign of the rain that threatened. The perfect cocktail, but you have to take advantage of it, and Ángel has done it perfectly.
He started on the first hole with an eagle that seemed almost easy. Great drive to the right side of the fairway, iron with backspin effect that stops two and a half meters from the flag, and putt in. That’s how the day could be defined. His only mistake of the day came at the second flag with a second shot that closed too much. After that, it was plain sailing. It could have been even fewer if the birdie putts on the 6th and 8th had wanted to go in. On the 12th hole, he missed an eagle by centimetres. The birdie on the 9th from 85 meters deserves a chapter of its own…
It’s easy to get used to the quality that Ángel has. It doesn’t seem like he’s doing anything extraordinary, and at the same time, his simplicity and calmness convey a lot of normality. However, we can’t take it lightly that at his age, he reaches the Challenge Final and starts in this way. It’s not normal.
If the tournament ends like this, Ángel would close the annual ranking in second position, only behind a Rasmus Neergard-Petersen who is second and determined to make history. He delivered an initial card of 63 strokes and would become the champion of the Challenge Tour. There’s a lot ahead, and he admits he’s tired after six consecutive weeks of competing and just landed from Korea. Blessed tiredness.
Three strokes behind the Spaniard in third position is the Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan (-7). The Spaniard Joel Moscatel (-5) is also in the fight for everything after delivering an initial card of 67 strokes. The curse of Alcanada with the Spaniards seems to be fading. The best Spaniard in the four editions held at this course was Javi Sainz two years ago when he finished tenth. For now, Ángel is the leader and Joel eighth.
This Friday, the golf day is brought forward. The island wakes up on orange alert, and play will start from eight in the morning from both tees. We’ll see how much can be played. Joel will start at 9:10, and the leader at 9:50. Fingers crossed because everything points to play being suspended at noon.
Check the live results of the Rolex Challenge Grand Tour Final
