The references are positive. The South African start of the HotelPlanner Tour invites optimism. The season has just begun, only four tournaments have been played, and it’s too early to draw any indicative conclusions. However, the balance is hopeful. Curious, some readers might think. There are no victories in the bag, no podiums, and just two top tens in the backpack, both by Lucas Vacarisas.
The reality is that at this moment, the Catalan player is already among the top twenty of the year and would secure one of the twenty cards for the DP World Tour. The positive news doesn’t end there. Three more players are within the top 45 who play the Final of the Road to Mallorca. Quim Vidal is twenty-fifth, Borja Virto is three places lower at twenty-eighth, and Albert Boneta appears in thirty-seventh place.
In other words, there is one player within the main goal and three others in the grand final. It should be noted that Boneta has the DP World Tour card, but thanks to the dual ranking, he can add to the Road to Mallorca and, if things don’t go well in the first division, he could, at a certain point, focus on the second division of the European Circuit.
Additionally, there are two other players who are just ten points away from the decisive event in Alcanada. Adri Arnaus and Santi Tarrio are in 54th and 55th place on the Road, respectively.
Why this call for optimism? The comparison with 2024 is positive. Just twelve months ago at this time, as now, there was only one player within the top twenty, Victor Pastor in 16th place, but there were only two players in the top 45, one less than this year. Everyone remembers that the year ended with two from the Armada, Joel Moscatel and Ángel Ayora, moving up. The Spaniards are well-positioned in a marathon that still has many battles ahead.
Looking at other details, the Armada also comes out favourably. Last year on this same tour, only nine players had made the cut in the combination of the first four events of the year. This season, the number has almost doubled to 17. Greater solidity and consistency from our players.
To see both sides, last year at this time Victor Pastor had already achieved a podium, and on this tour, the Armada hasn’t reached those positions in any tournament. The sixth place of Lucas Vacarisas is the biggest haul. However, Borja Virto led on Sunday in Cape Town to fight for a title that has eluded him for ten seasons. He couldn’t close the tournament well, but if he maintains the level, he will have more opportunities.
Regarding top 20 and top 10, this year there are two places among the top ten, one more than in 2024, and four places within the top 20, the same as last year. However, last season all those places were shared between Victor Pastor and Ángel Ayora, while this year it’s more spread out, with more Spaniards in the contest. The two top 10s are credited to Lucas Vacarisas, but the top 20s are shared by Borja Virto, Santi Tarrio, Quim Vidal, and Albert Boneta. There’s a share for everyone. Other players like Sebas García and Victor Pastor have plenty of time to turn things around. There are 25 events ahead.
“It’s the first year I’ve gained here. I’m playing better. I came with the goal of making 80 points and I’m leaving with 112, so I’m happy. The main change is that I’ve switched to the broom putter, and it has given me more consistency in my game. The results could have been even better, but I can’t complain. I’m very happy to have secured a good cushion of points,” says Lucas Vacarisas, who would currently be a DP World Tour player. “Now I have three weeks to rest and train to return at full strength in India and hopefully maintain the good feelings.”
For his part, Borja Virto is also giving a thumbs up after the visit to Mandela’s land: “Very positive assessment. A good start, in which I’ve made three cuts. With increasingly positive game sensations, going from strength to strength and fighting for a tournament (Cape Town Open). South Africa is very challenging for me, and I think I’ve been able to compete. I do think my bad Sunday in Cape Town affected me a bit, and that’s why I missed the cut this last week, plus I was a bit more tired. Beyond that, I’m very happy with how the tour has gone.”
Beyond the Spaniards, undoubtedly the standout name of this tournament start has been the South African Daniel Van Tonder. Two victories and two top tens already ensure him to be one of the top twenty of the year by February. He has eight months to secure a third victory that allows him to ascend directly and not wait until the end of the season.
