Tensions rise as Qualifying School moves into final 36 holes – Golf News

Edoardo Molinari will take a two-stroke lead into the final two days of Final Stage Qualifying School, as he moved a step closer to regaining DP World Tour playing status for 2025.

The veteran Italian signed for a three-under-par 68 on the Lakes Course at Infinitum to move to 20-under-par for the week, two clear of Frenchman Clément Sordet in solo second.

Molinari has led the six-round marathon since climbing into the lead after posting a second round 61, and despite seeing his lead of four overnight cut to two, he’s optimistic about his chances with 36 holes to play.

“It would be nice to win it,” he said. “I’m just trying to do the best I can and at the end of the week we’ll see where I am.

“I feel like I left a few shots on the course the last few days. Over the first two days I probably didn’t deserve to be 17 under, so in the end it always evens itself out. I’m hitting the ball well and hopefully I can make some putts over the last two days.”

Molinari finished 140th in the 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings to miss out on retaining his DP World Tour playing privileges, but looks set to regain them at the earliest opportunity after impressing through the first 72 holes in Tarragona.

South African Justin Harding posted a fourth round 64 on the Lakes Course to move into third place on 17 under, with Scotsman David Law also signing for a seven under 64 to share fourth on 16 under par alongside Dane Alexander George Frances and Spaniard Albert Boneta.

Three players are one shot further back in seventh on 15 under par, including Norwegian Alexander Settemsdal, American David Bryant and Italian Filippo Celli.

CUT FALLS AT -7

A total of 83 players from the 156-strong field made the 72-hole cut, with the leading 20 players and ties after six rounds earning DP World Tour playing privileges on the 2025 Race to Dubai.

Among the more well-known names to stay in the hunt for a card are Eddie Pepperrell, who shot a fourth round 69 to sit in tied 30th on -10. The two-time DP World Tour winner is just two shots off a top-2o place as things stand with 36 holes still to play.

Those players who squeezed into the final two rounds on the -7 cut mark are just five shorts off 20th place.

Among those who failed to progress beyond the fourth round include past European Tour winners Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Oliver Wilson, Marc Warren, Chris Wood and Kalle Samooja.

For all the scores from Final Stage Qualifying, click here.