DP World Tour : Q School Final Stage. Leaderboard Tee Times
Zander Lombard and Benjamin Follett-Smith lead by two shots after three rounds of DP World Tour Final Stage Qualifying School at INFINITUM.
The 30-year-old could secure DP World Tour playing privileges through Qualifying School for the second time in his career this week, after he finished second at INFINITUM in 2018.
Lombard, who missed the start of the 2025 season due to injury, says he has found form in recent weeks and is hoping to capitalise on being in a strong position at the mid-point of the six-round marathon in Tarragona.
“Today was another move in the right direction for this long week,” he said. “I can't complain.
“I've played stress-free golf, put it in the right spots and leaned on the putter for a few birdies.
“You play every nine as a new nine, then start over and try and make new little goals. It's been working and hopefully I can carry it on.
“The last two or three months, I've been showing some signs of where I used to be at, and I feel like I'm hitting the ball how I should. It’s been trending.
“I’ve had a couple of good rounds on tough golf courses in tough conditions, I just didn't do it for four days in a row. I've proven I can do it for three days, so hopefully I can do it for three more.
Follett-Smith teed it up in the same group as Lombard and also got his round off to a fast start by recording four birdies, an eagle more.and a bogey on his front nine, before playing his back nine in level par.
The 31-year-old finished tied 12th at INFINITUM last year, and says the lessons learned 12 months ago should stand him in good stead over the next three days.
“I obviously started well and had a really good front nine which is the start you need and the start you want to have,” he said. “After that, I just stuck to my game plan.
“This is a marathon of a tournament and there's always another day, but I'm happy with the way I'm playing and happy with the way it went today.
“Last year I learned how irrelevant playing well for three days can be. It's not over until it's over. The last three days, you’ve just got to play it like it's the first day.
“It's always nice being in this position though. It gives you some room for an error if you did make one, which eases your mind a little. Three days to go and I'm just going to keep plodding along and hopefully end up at the top.”
Englishman Matthew Baldwin, Australian Connor McKinney and Norwegian Andreas Halvorsen share fifth on -12, with Portuguese Daniel Rodrigues and Brazil’s Frederico Biondi Figueiredo one shot further back in eighth.
The fourth round of Final Stage gets under way tomorrow at 9:00am local time, with Lombard and Follett-Smith teeing off alongside De Leo at 9:49am on the Lakes Course.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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