Renato Paratore (-17) has become a new player on the DP World Tour this Sunday. The Italian has won the Hainan Open in China, his third victory of the year on the HotelPlanner Tour, and is promoted directly to the first division. He could play next week at the DP World Indian Championship, although for now, he is the 14th reserve. This means it is most likely that he will not be able to play any DP World Tour tournaments this season, as in Korea, the other remaining regular calendar event, access is even more restricted than in India. In any case, this third victory is by no means in vain, as his category next year will be slightly better than the graduates of the HotelPlanner Tour.
Paratore won the Hainan Open after a thrilling finish. He came from behind, attacking, from less to more, and ended up winning on the first playoff hole against Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner, another of the standout players this year in the second division. Renato made a crucial eagle on the 13th hole (five under par here this week) and finished with a birdie that gave him access to the playoff. Meanwhile, Steinlechner finished with five consecutive pars. He lacked a final gear change. Even so, the 25-year-old Central European golfer has also already secured his DP World Tour card for next year through the Road to Mallorca.
Paratore thus becomes the second player to achieve three victories on the HotelPlanner Tour and promote to the DP World Tour. The other was South African JC Ritchie less than a month ago, although he has not used his new category to play in the Open de España. Paratore won two consecutive tournaments in April, both in the United Arab Emirates. The third victory was in China. He is now third in the Road to Mallorca.
The Hainan Open also brings very good news for Spanish golf. The main one bears the mark of Sebas García Rodríguez (-14). The Madrid golfer finished the tournament with a scorecard of 68 strokes this Sunday, with a great production of six birdies, and finished in an excellent tied fourth position. This performance has allowed him to make a giant leap in the Road to Mallorca. He has climbed 14 positions and is now 21st, just one step away from the 20 DP World Tour cards. He is just over six points from the target. A notable blow at the most important moment of the season. There is one more tournament in China, which distributes more points than the regular season, and the Final in Mallorca, where even more points are distributed.
The other very good news is about Rocco Repetto (-12). The Malaga player finished the tournament with a scorecard of 70 strokes and secured a spot in the top 10. Specifically, he finished in eighth position. He has accumulated a good harvest of points and, although he has lost one position in the Road to Mallorca (currently 13th), he already has more points than were needed last year to finish in the 20th position of the ranking. His promotion to the DP World Tour cannot yet be taken for granted, but he is very well on track.
Right now, there are two Spaniards in card positions: Quim Vidal (11th) and Rocco Repetto (13th). Additionally, Sebas García is on the verge, and there are others with many options like Adri Arnaus (38), Santi Tarrio (44), Albert Boneta (47), Lucas Vacarisas (55), Víctor Pastor (56), and Borja Virto (65). The last five, however, still need to secure their presence in the Final in Mallorca next week in the second tournament in China. The top 45 of the Road to Mallorca qualify.
