As if spun from a golfer’s fairytale, Edoardo Molinari is setting the pace at the Final Stage Qualifying School, where he’s not just playing golf; he’s rewriting his career script.
On a blustery day five at INFINITUM in Tarragona, our Italian protagonist widened his lead to three strokes before the skies cracked open with lightning, halting the play.
Molinari, who began his day already ahead by two shots, moved up to a serene 24 under par through 15 holes.
This trio of birdies today didn’t just fortify his lead; they stamped his intent to claw back to the golf’s Global Tour.
Chasing him on this leaderboard chase are Swede Niklas Lemke and South African Justin Harding, tied at a commendable 21 under.
It’s been a spectacle of sheer grit from Molinari, who’s been ahead of the pack since he dazzled the crowd with a ten-under-par 61 on the second day.
After a tough start to 2024, ending up 140th in the Race to Dubai, Molinari is now just a few strokes away from securing his 2025 tour card, right alongside the top 20 qualifiers.
Reflecting on his performance, Molinari shared, “It would be very nice to do it. I’ve been around the DP World Tour long enough to see the ebbs and flows, and as the twilight of my career beckons, I know I’ve still got a few good swings left in me.”
The day kicked off with a bogey that could have spelt trouble, but Molinari’s resilience shone through.
Birdies at the eighth, ninth, and a trio more on the back nine saw him rebound splendidly, demonstrating that age is but a number when it comes to staying competitive.
Feeling the fatigue but riding on adrenaline, he remains optimistic about wrapping up his fifth round in style come morning, and then tackling the final round with gusto.
Meanwhile, the leaderboard’s middle pack is tightly contested. Amateur Jacob Skov Olesen from Denmark holds solo fourth at 19 under, while Englishman Ben Schmidt and Frenchman Clément Sordet are nipping at his heels.
Not far behind, the trio of Zimbabwean Benjamin Follett-Smith, and Americans Ryggs Johnston and Davis Bryant share sixth.
Round five will resume on Thursday now at 8:30 am, with round six not due to start before 9:00 am.
Can Molinari clinch victory under the Spanish sun? Time and a few solid putts will be the judge.
