La second Stage of the DP World Tour School has completed the third day and, as expected, the final round at the four venues will not be for the faint-hearted. The Spanish Armada has manoeuvred some of its pieces well, but only the amateur Albert Boneta has secured a substantial cushion heading into the final round.
Desert Springs (Almería). The top 22 will qualify tomorrow. The leader is Welshman Toby Hunt (-16), who has secured a place in the Final barring a major surprise, as the cut line is currently at -9. Catalan amateur Albert Boneta (-13) also made a great move today, signing the best card of the day at the Almerian course, an exuberant 63 with seven birdies and two eagles. Tomorrow he will start with a four-shot cushion and might even manage with a round at par… Fantastic emergence of this player in recent months.
Golf Las Pinaillas (Albacete). The top 23 will qualify tomorrow. Young Thai David Boriboonsub (-19) delivered a 60-shot card today and will start tomorrow with a five-shot lead over his closest pursuer and twelve over the cut line, which is currently at -7. Quite something. Things are a bit tighter for the Spanish Armada players present at the Manchegan venue. Joseba Torres (-8) is among the ‘chosen’, but today he signed a 71-shot card, at par, and has only a one-shot margin with the cut line. Alejandro Cañizares (-4), on the other hand, has given himself a chance with a 69-shot round, although tomorrow he will start three shots off the cut line. He will likely need his best round of the week to make it to next week’s Final. Pablo Alperi (-2), however, has fallen too far behind with a 73-shot round today, two over par, although he could still make it with a big Sunday round. Conversely, Manuel Ballesteros (+7) is out of options with a 78-shot round.
Fontanals Golf Club (Girona). The top 22 will qualify tomorrow. Slovak Jakub Hrinda (-19) continues to lead in Girona and has achieved the objective, with the cut line currently at -8. Borja Virto (-10) has thus secured a great chance of making it to the Final, thanks to a magnificent 66-shot record today, five under par. Even more impressive has been the comeback of Luis Masaveu (-10), with a 65-shot card. Both are well on track, but cannot let their guard down in the Sunday round. Mario Galiano (-6), meanwhile, still has something to say after signing a 67 that left him two shots off the cut line. It is not, therefore, an insurmountable disadvantage and it feels like the Andalusian is improving as the week progresses. Lucas Vacarisas (-4, today a 68-shot round) could also make it to the Final, although he is under much more pressure. Álvaro Quirós (-1) has reacted, but not with the depth needed. His 68-shot round, three under par, seems insufficient. His situation is very simple: he would need something like the best round of the week on this course (62 shots) tomorrow to give himself a chance…
Isla Canela Links (Huelva). The top 23 will qualify tomorrow. The third round could not be completed at the Huelva venue, where the Armada still has chances, although currently hanging by a thread. Today, when the light faded, nearly half of the players were still on the course. Javier Barcos (-4) was four over par for the day after fourteen holes and has complicated his situation, as the cut line could be set tomorrow, once everyone finishes the third round, around -8. The Navarrese would need to finish his round on a high (he has to play the last two par 5s, holes 15 and 18) to clear the outlook and head into the final round with renewed energy. Quim Vidal (-7) and Javier Sainz (-7), meanwhile, have completed the third round today and moved in the right direction with cards of 69 and 68 shots, respectively. Tomorrow they will start on the edge of the cut line, always a tricky situation, but with all doors open. Alejandro Aguilera (PAR), with a one-under-par partial in fifteen holes, has a steep hill to climb, as does Víctor Pastor (+2), who lost his chances today with a completed 77-shot round. Lastly, it should be noted that at the time of this edition’s closure, we could not confirm the partial result of José Luis Adarraga, who, at the time of suspension due to lack of light, should have played about fourteen holes and started the day with a total of +1.
