Angel Ayora delivered a masterclass of precision and patience, firing a bogey-free four-under-par round of 66 on moving day at the Rosa Challenge Tour.
This stellar performance pushed him two strokes clear at 13-under-par for the week, putting him on the cusp of his first Challenge Tour title in Poland.
Trailing behind the 19-year-old Spaniard is Italy’s Gregorio de Leo, who rocketed into contention with a dazzling, course-record-breaking nine-under-par round of 61.
De Leo now shares second place with overnight leader Jens Fahrbring of Sweden, both sitting two shots adrift of Ayora’s lead.
Ayora, in his debut season on the Challenge Tour, is on a mission to make a swift ascent to the DP World Tour. A win this week would certainly boost his chances.
“I worked so hard last year as an amateur to prepare for my first year as a professional and I’m very happy with the result so far,” Ayora shared, reflecting on his journey.
Eyes Set on the Prize
The young Spaniard has his sights firmly set on the trophy. “It would be a dream come true to win tomorrow.
Having a win in my first season would be very special,” he continued. “Today it was a windy day, different to the first two days, so I needed to be smart, very patient and hit good shots which I did well. It’s always fun to have a bogey-free round, so I’m happy.”
Currently ranked 24th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, Ayora has notched three top-ten finishes in his 17 starts this season.
A win in Poland could catapult him to ninth place, significantly improving his standing with eight events remaining in the 29-event season.
Learning from Experience
Earlier this year, Ayora received a taste of the big leagues when he teed it up on the PGA TOUR at the Puerto Rico Open, where he made the cut.
This experience, along with the mentorship from seasoned compatriot and seven-time DP World Tour winner Alvaro Quiros, has been invaluable for Ayora as he transitions into his professional career.
“It gave me extra motivation for the year playing on the PGA TOUR earlier this season,” Ayora mentioned.
“I’ve dreamed of playing on the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR since I was a child, so it was very special.”
Having fellow Spaniards around has also bolstered his confidence. “It’s been good for me to have experienced Spanish players here on the Challenge Tour each week too.
I grew up watching Alvaro play, so it’s great to have a friend like him around.”
With just one round to go, Ayora remains focused on maintaining his lead.
“Tomorrow I’ll try to keep my game going in the same direction, hitting good shots and being patient, so we’ll see what happens,” he concluded.
Chasing Pack Not Far Behind
Danish golfer Martin Simonsen is just three shots off the lead in fourth place at ten-under-par. Northern Irishman Dermot McElroy trails by another stroke in fifth.
Meanwhile, Frenchman Alexander Levy and Dane John Axelsen share sixth place at eight-under-par, keeping themselves in the mix for a potential Sunday charge.
The final round of the Rosa Challenge Tour tees off at 8:30 a.m. local time, with Ayora, De Leo, and Fahrbring set to start their pivotal round at 10:25 a.m.
As the tension mounts, all eyes will be on Ayora to see if he can convert his advantage into a memorable first title on the Challenge Tour.
