Staff WriterRenato Paratore carded a four‑under‑par 66 on the final day of the Abu Dhabi Challenge to secure back‑to‑back HotelPlanner Tour titles.
Paratore, fresh from his UAE Challenge triumph, birdied two of his last four holes to finish on 17 under, edging out Scotsman David Law and Spain’s Sebastian Garcia by one shot.
Storming Finish at Al Ain
Paratore began the final round one shot behind overnight leader Garrick Porteous but wasted no time in making his move.
Birdies at the fifth and seventh holes put him into the red before the turn. Despite two bogeys on the back nine, he knuckled down when it mattered most—finding the par‑five 18th green in two and two‑putting for the winning birdie.
“I feel amazing,” he said. “I still can’t believe it. To make two birdies in the last four holes, I am really happy. I felt confident coming into today because I won last week but I knew it was tough today because there were a lot of people in contention.
“I started well but on the second nine I managed to make some good birdies after a few bogeys; I am really proud of myself.”
Nerve‑Steady on the 18th
Standing on the 18th tee, Paratore knew one precise swing could decide the title. His approach was textbook.
“The second shot I had to play perfectly. As soon as I saw the flight it was perfect, it was a good sensation.
“I have been staying with my swing, not changing too much and working a lot on my body and mental state.”
Close Chasers and Moving Up the Rankings
Law and Garcia finished joint second at 16 under, with American Davis Bryant another stroke back in solo fourth.
A quartet of challengers—Robin Sciot‑Siegrist, Victor Sidal Svendsen, Stefano Mazzoli and Albert Boneta—shared fifth place at 14 under.
Thanks to his back‑to‑back wins in the United Arab Emirates, Renato Paratore has vaulted to second in the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
Law jumped 18 places to ninth, while Garcia rocketed up 78 spots to 18th.
What’s Next on the HotelPlanner Tour
After a two‑week hiatus, the HotelPlanner Tour heads to Europe for the Challenge de España, slated for May 8–11.
If Paratore’s form in Abu Dhabi is anything to go by, the Italian will arrive in Europe brimming with confidence and hungry for more glory.
