Staff WriterIt was one of those golf finishes that makes you check the scorecard twice. Anders Emil Ejlersen, a 26-year-old Dane who only found out on Sunday that he’d even be in the field, stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the Dormy Open with a closing stretch that would make Aladdin blush: eagle, eagle, birdie.
Playing at Upsala GolfKlubb, Ejlersen fired a sizzling seven-under-par 64 to reach 18 under, nudging one shot ahead of fellow Dane Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen and England’s Jamie Rutherford heading into the final round.
For much of Saturday, Ejlersen was just another name in the pack, treading water at one under on the front nine. Then, on the 16th tee, something in him clicked. After reaching the par five in two and holing the putt, he promptly dunked his bunker shot on the par four 17th for back-to-back eagles. Just for good measure, he birdied the last.
“I played well but didn’t make a lot of putts,” Ejlersen said, still trying to process the madness. “Then all a sudden I’m on 16, make an eagle, then holed a bunker shot on 17 for another eagle then finish with a birdie on 18 and here I am leading this tournament.
“I knew I was two shots behind, but anything can happen on the last three holes, especially on this course and I took advantage.”
From the Nordic League to the Big Stage
Ejlersen has spent most of his season grinding on the Nordic Golf League, with just three HotelPlanner Tour starts to his name in 2025. Nerves were inevitable, but the Dane showed composure well beyond his experience.
“I was a little bit nervous with this being a new experience for me, but I thought I’d just take it as another day on the golf course,” he admitted. “I teed off a little bit shaky but after three holes I settled down and realised this is just another round and played pretty well from there.”
Now he finds himself not only in contention but leading the Dormy Open, preparing for his first taste of a final-round Sunday spotlight.
“I am going to try and replicate today. I am playing with Jonathan who is a very good friend of mine, so I’ll just treat it as any other round. I’ve played with him so many times so that will ease my nerves slightly.
“I will just try to hit some good golf shots, makes some putts and see where that gets me.”
The Chasers Lurking
The chasing pack is hardly short on firepower. Vince van Veen of the Netherlands, New Zealander Sam Jones, Englishman John Gough, and Frenchman Felix Mory are all tied for fourth at 15 under. Just a shot further back sit Spain’s Rocco Repetto Taylor, England’s Alfie Plant, and Australian Hayden Hopewell.
With so many names within striking distance, Sunday at the Dormy Open promises fireworks, or at least a few more bunker shots that find the bottom of the cup.
Play resumes at 9:00 am, with Ejlersen, Gøth-Rasmussen, and Rutherford heading out in the final group at 10:55 am.
Whether Ejlersen can carry the magic of Saturday’s finish into a maiden victory remains to be seen—but after eagle-eagle-birdie, you’d be daft to bet against him.
