Edoardo Molinari birdied the final hole to claim a one-stroke victory in the Final Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School and become one of 21 players to receive their DP World Tour INFINITUM cards.
Molinari carded a four-under 67 to go with rounds of 65, 61, 72, 68 and 66 to reach 29 under for the week, one clear of Sweden's Niklas Lemke who qualified with a 64 on the final day.
The three-time DP World Tour winner and Ryder Cup Vice-Captain returned to the field on Thursday to complete his fifth round after the entire sixth day was washed away by rain in Tarragona, before hitting it high with Lemke in the round. six.
Molinari, who once trailed Lemke by two strokes, was delighted to finish the week on top and secure a quick return to Europe's top-level tour.
“It was great to finish on top,” he said. “I'm relieved to come out on top in the end. I feel I deserve it after the way I played all week.
“I think with such a long week, it's important that we start well and obviously it was a good start after two days. I never dreamed of being 17 under par after two days.
“It means a lot to keep my card, especially since I'm 43 now. I'm getting to the end of my career so any chance I get to play, I want to take it.
BRYANT BLASTS 62 TO RUN
American Davis Bryant fired a nine-under 62 to finish third at 27 under to secure a DP World Tour berth for the first time after exiting all three stages.
Joining Bryant to win all three stages to earn their DP World Tour cards were Spaniard Albert Boneta, Australian Danny List and Dan Erickson, American Ryggs Johnston and Corey Shaun.
There was plenty of news on the final day in Spain, where Armenian Jean Bekirian finished the week in tenth place to become the first Armenian to hold a card on the DP World Tour, and a four-under 67 on the final day saw him secure playing rights in the 2025 Race to Dubai.
“What I have done in the last two rounds, to have a DP World Tour card is a dream. It was very stressful today and I didn't sleep yesterday, but today I played my best golf of the week. I'm proud that I played the golf I played under that pressure.”
GASP'S LAST EAGLE SENDS DE LEO
South Africa's Wilco Nienaber saved his best round for last week, carding a 63 to climb into the qualifying spots, with an eagle at the closing hole enough to book Italian Gregorio de Leo's place on the DP World Tour next season.
Dutchman Wil Besseling birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th holes to earn his card in stunning fashion, and Danish scholarship player Jacob Skov Olesen capped a memorable week by finishing in 18th place alongside Besseling to secure his qualification.
Among those who will miss out is two-time DP World Tour winner Eddie Pepperell, who fell one shot behind on 18th place after shooting a final-round 69.
A double-bogey six on the 15th proved too costly and relegated the 33-year-old from Oxfordshire to the Challenge Tour for the first time in 12 years, although he will receive more starts and invitations to play in the main. visit.
Final Stage Winners: Edoardo Molinari, Niklas Lemke, Davis Bryant, Albert Boneta, Alexander George Frances, Wilco Nienaber, Clément Sordet, Ryggs Johnston, Bastien Amat, Jean Bekirian, Joshua Berry, Justin Harding, Ben Schmidt, Benjamin Follett-Smith, Corey Shaun, Gregorio de Leo, Dan Erickson, Jacob Skov Olesen, Wil Besseling, Tadeáš Tadek, Danny List.
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