Garrick Porteous (-24) is the champion of the Abu Dhabi Challenge 2024. The Englishman has prevailed in the final round with a one-stroke advantage over the Frenchman Alexander Levy (-23) and two strokes over the Dane Nicolai Kristenesen (-22). With today’s victory, Porteous achieves the second triumph of his career on the circuit. The previous one was back in 2017 in the Czech Republic.
Porteous started as co-leader in the stellar match, but with today’s favourable conditions, it was necessary to fly low at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club. The Englishman has handed in a card of 63 strokes with which he has prevailed in the one-on-one against Levy. The birdie on the 18th hole gave him the final victory, avoiding an agonising playoff.
This year, the Englishman has the rights of the DP World Tour by category 18, that is, those players who won it through the European Circuit School. It is a category that allows playing fewer tournaments than the one achieved through the Challenge so if he does not manage to improve his status during the year, the Challenge route looms as a very interesting option to achieve a better category for 2025. Moreover, as from this year it is possible to score points in the Challenge the weeks you play in the DP World Tour (as long as it is a week in which both circuits are played) it will not be strange to see the Englishman combine both circuits. After his victory today, he is already fifth in the Road to Mallorca.
The Frenchman Alexander Levy finished second alone, extending in Abu Dhabi a great state of form. In the last three tournaments, he has finished in the top 10 and has 16 consecutive rounds playing under par. After twelve consecutive years with rights in the highest continental category, the Frenchman faces his first season without them and wants to recover that condition as quickly as possible. With today’s second place, he is already among the top ten players of the year.
The Spaniards did not sign the desired end of the tournament. Quim Vidal and Ángel Ayora (-16) were three and four strokes from the lead respectively. They dreamed of their first victory on the circuit in what for both is their rookie season. If the victory did not happen, the first top 10 was within reach. Well, in the end, neither one thing nor the other has been possible. With rounds of two under par from the Catalan and three under par from the Andalusian, they have finished tied in 15th position.
The favourable conditions of the course today required flying very low and it was not possible. For a moment Ángel Ayora seemed to aspire to a place among the highest positions on the table. He started with three birdies in the first seven holes, but from that moment on the opportunities slipped away and in the remaining twelve holes he could only play the course par with two bogeys and two birdies.
Ayora’s result is good, very positive, but it is true that the expectations that his game is generating leaves us today with a result with a slight bitter taste. The young Spanish player is 19 years old and this year he already accumulates three tournaments among the top 15 in just four appearances. 12th in the SDC Open, 13th in the NMB Championship and 15th this week in Abu Dhabi. The results are spectacular and as soon as everything comes together we will see Ángel among the best on the circuit, have no doubt. Right now he is 30th in the annual ranking and would have a place in the Mallorca final.
On the other hand, Quim Vidal has followed today an inverse tone to that of the Andalusian, he has suffered a lot in the first thirteen holes playing over par of the course, but he has known how to keep fighting until the end with three birdies in the last five flags that have returned him to a place among the top fifteen of the tournament.
Despite not having signed the dream final round, the Catalan has achieved the best result of his career in the Challenge Tour and adds his second top 20 of the season. More than positive news for a rookie on the circuit. If Quim Vidal passes a cut, Quim Vidal fights for big things.
From the rest of the Spaniards, it is worth highlighting a new top 30 from Víctor Pastor who with a total of -14 has finished in 27th place. It is not a result that allows him to have one of the 20 cards of the year in his hand again, but he is very close to the objective. Borja Virto (-8) has added his first points of the season and Javi Sainz (-5) has finally finished in 64th place with a final round over par.
The great result of the day was signed by the Scotsman Euan Walker (-20) who has matched the course record set two days ago by Wilco Nienaber. Card of 60 strokes with ten birdies without error to climb 27 places in the table and finish in fourth position. The big blow of the day was starred by Wilco Nienaber who started as a leader and with a card of 75 strokes has finished in 38th position.
