There are three things that have become quite clear after the third day of the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed. It is perfectly understandable that our beaches are crowded these days with Nordics, victory is a matter of a single player and the Spanish race for the Games has been reduced to two candidates. It is undeniable that this moving day at the Vasatorps Golfkklub in Helsingborg has been eventful.
Dog’s day in Sweden. We are in the middle of June and rain, cold and wind have been the protagonists. “I, delighted, for me it was like being at home,” said a smiling Calum Hill (-12), Scottish for more signs. It has been a tough day of golf. What is known as very British. The only good thing is that the fairways and greens have been soft and receptive, so those who have understood the wind well have been able to make few. You compare Helsingborg with Sancti Petri and, of course, there is no comparison.
One of those who has perfectly understood what the field was asking for today has been Sebastian Soderberg (-21). The Swede is marking this week a Juan Palomo. He cooks it and he eats it. Leader from start to finish, outstanding and without looking back. He’s got plenty. This Saturday he even got into some trouble, forcing the machine more than necessary, but it’s his nature and he’s not going to change it. Perhaps that’s why he hasn’t won everything he could or deserved, but when he’s inspired he’s an absolute birdie-making machine. He blows up every single flag and his putt is a lethal weapon.
So, he will go out this Sunday with an eight-stroke lead over the second-placed, the aforementioned Hill. Anything can happen in 18 holes, but Soderberg’s collapse would be a real surprise. He’s playing very well this week, he’s going through the best moment of his career, he has a very wide lead, he competes at home, he has already won once (Omega European Masters 2019) and he has experience. A flop seems difficult.
Soderberg has managed very well, but the best of the day has been Santi Tarrio (-12), another one who is not going to be scared by a few drops, the cold and a bit of wind. The Galician’s performance, third place, has been a high school golf clinic. The longest birdie putt he has made (without bogeys), of the seven he has made, has been four and a half meters. He also put one in from outside, very close, on the 9th. Really, he has been excellent with the irons, playing with the cap backwards to combat the wind.
Tarrio is tied with Alexander Bjork (-12) and Alice Hewson (-12), two usual suspects around here. Bjork is rarely not in the fight when playing in Sweden and Hewson has become a specialist in mixed tournaments. She is the best representative of the Ladies European Tour ahead of Linn Grant (-10) and Nastasia Nadaud (-10). A girl in the top 10 and three among the top 16.
In the fight for second place, and waiting for the unthinkable to happen with Soderberg, is Rafa Cabrera Bello (-11), sixth place. Another great day of golf for the Canary Islander. Even above the result. He saved a good par on hole 10, but from there there have been many birdie opportunities, some short ones that have gone, like on the 3rd, 15th or 17th, and in general very solid in all areas of the game, from the tee, fine, fine, with the irons, and successful with the putt between two and five meters.
The other thing that has become clear is that the Olympic race of Spanish male golf to be in Paris is reduced to two: David Puig and Jorge Campillo (-10). The Extremaduran needs to finish at least tenth alone to surpass Puig this Monday in the world ranking. He has it in his sights, even though today has not been his best day of golf. He has not been brilliant with the irons and, therefore, has not left many birdie options. Card of 71 strokes with two birdies and a single bogey. The opposite of what is required on a moving day. In any case, he is eleventh and is only three strokes from second place. He has plenty of margin for that main objective: Paris Olympic Games. As I said, he needs to finish tenth alone and then wait for what Puig does in the US Open, as he could surpass him again with a good performance in Pinehurst.
Nacho Elvira (-8) has been left out of the Paris battle, as he only needs to win and there are thirteen strokes difference with Soderberg. Really, it’s not so much his fault as the Swedish leader’s. In fact, Elvira has handed in today a notable card of 69 strokes and remains among the top 20. Good day also for Angel Hidalgo (-7). The Malaga player has made 68 strokes and will fight this Sunday to get into the top 10.
As for the girls, none of them have a chance of victory and the top 10 has also been a bit far away. Luna Sobrón (-5) has made 70 strokes and María Hernández (-5) has signed 69. They aspire in any case to finish well and collect a notable cheque, much higher than usual in the LET.
