Marco Penge Claims Challenge Tour Double And Secures 2024 DP World Tour Card

GOOD MORNING ALL!

Good morning and welcome to the final day's play at the Challenge Tour Grand Final where, in around five-to-six hours time, we will learn who will be plying their trade on the DP World Tour next year!

Currently, Marco Penge leads both the event and the Road to Mallorca standings but, with plenty of golf remaining in Spain, every shot will count. The leaders head off in around half an hour and, looking at the early scores, there appears to be a real mix of over and under par rounds taking place.

So, why not strap in for what is set to be an enthralling afternoon of golf, with the top 20 players in the Road to Mallorca standings earning spots on the DP World Tour next year...

THE FINAL MAN

It's early days in Spain but, currently, Brandon Robinson-Thompson is the man occupying the 21st and final spot in the standings. He sits fourth in the tournament and is about to head out on to the course, with the likes of Rolex Series winner, Brandon Stone (20th), and Wales' Stuart Manley (22nd), his nearest rivals!

EARLY MOVERS AND SHAKERS

As the early starters approach and make the turn, only one player has reached three-under for today's play - and that score has been made by Ugo Coussaud, who sits in a tie for 33rd. 

The Frenchman is currently track to end the season third after suffering a disappointing final event so far, but if he can remain upwardly mobile then he will believe anything is possible.

American Julian Suri is at two-under for the day, but he needs to improve still on his T4 position if he is to secure a DP World Tour card - he's currently 24th in the RTM Rankings.

There are a lot of players throughout the field around the turn at two-under, so it seems like scoring will be possible today - even with those gusts still out there.

LEADERS UNDERWAY

Vaillant, Lacroix, and Penge have fired off their tee shots on one. A hat-trick of decent openers. Penge's was the best, though, rifling a hybrid low and down the middle which came to rest just across a cart path. Lovely stuff.

THE STAGE IS SET

LACROIX EAGLE AND PENGE PROBLEM

Despite missing the fairway with his drive way right, Lacroix drilled an absolutely brilliant iron shot into the short side of the green and has left himself maybe five feet  for eagle. That's the start you want to make! 

On the opposite side of the coin, Penge has pulled his approach low and left into the jungle. He's been forced into a drop and must get up and down to secure a par.

CONTRASTING FORTUNES ON ONE

Vaillant faced a lengthy eagle putt from the back of the first green, but his down-hill putt somehow comes up short - even with the greens running at 10.4 today. The quickest they've been all week. An awkward length remaining for birdie. And he's missed. A three putt for par will frustrate anyone, but Tom will be seething about that one.

Penge skuttles his par-putt past, but that's a tap-in for bogey. A decent result, considering. 

And we save the best until last. Frederic Lacroix confidently pushes his ball into the hole for an opening eagle! 

SUPER START BY SURI

American Julian Suri has made an eagle-par-birdie start as he looks to steal one of the final DP World Tour cards. He's currently 23rd in the rankings, but if he carries on this way then he'll be a shoo-in.

The wind is starting to really whip up now, and players are struggling to land approach shots. Brandon Robinson-Thompson has just watched his wedge shot spin back off the green due to getting caught up in the wind. His third shot flew over the green. Nerves and tricky conditions are playing havoc with some.

And that's the curse of the commentator coming true again. Suri found the heart of the green on the par-3 fourth, but went on to three putt and ends with a bogey.

GETTING READY

Here's a photo of some late green-keeping work being completed this morning. I can only presume the dog is there to round up some wayward sheep while the human staff paints and cuts the hole.

NO CHANGE AT THE TOP

All three leaders tidy up on the second to record a hat-trick of pars. Putting in this ever-increasing wind cannot be easy, but the two Frenchman and lone Englishman managed to avoid any damage.

ROBINSON-THOMPSON DISPLAYS FIGHT

Robinson-Thompson endured a pretty torrid third hole, shooting double bogey as he criss-crossed the green. But what a response! Facing a birdie chance on the fourth which he had no real right to make, the Englishman fired a beautiful winding putt over a ridge before crashing into the pin and dropping in.

Robinson-Thompson is one of those just inside the DP World Tour cut line.

GRINDING IT OUT

A lot of gutsy par putts are going in right now. Suri finds a clutch four on five, while Penge slots home on the third to make it two in a row. Unfortunately for Vaillant, though, he watches a close-range shot lip out. The Frenchman falls one back but is still comfortably inside the all-important top-21.

MANLEY MAKING A RUN

Stuart Manley is way down the leaderboard for the tournament, but the Welshman is showing some real grit and determination to make that top-21 on the RTM. He's strung three consecutive birdies together to push himself into the magic zone, but there goes a bogey at 16 to set nerves jangling again. Although he is 14-over for the tournament, his RTM projected ranking is currently 20th.

LEADERS FAIL TO FIND A BIRDIE

Penge, Lacroix, and Vaillant all had makeable birdie putts off the back of the fifth green, but none of them found the bottom of the cup. Vaillant - who has really struggled with the flat stick so far today - comes closest, but it's a lip-out and no cigar. As you were!

PENGE IN ACTION

The leader has put that early blemish behind him, and he's just been trundling along with pars ever since - that's all he needs to do.

ROAD TO MALLORCA STANDINGS

The top-21 in the RTM Rankings is is an ever-changing situation, but here is how it stands around the bubble right now.

• 16 - Tom Vaillant
• 17 - Francesco Laporta
• 18 - Brandon Stone
• 19 - Max Rottluff
• 20 - Stuart Manley
• 21 - Brandon Robinson-Thompson
• CUT-OFF LINE
• 22 - Sam Bairstow
• 23 - Julian Suri
• 24 - Benjamin Follett-Smith
• 25 - Jamie Rutherford

VAILLANT PUTTER WOES CONTINUE

The Frenchman is really struggling with his putter. He's missed a handful of short efforts already so far, but he rolls a close one in to save bogey on six. As a result of that dropped shot, Vaillant has slipped to 21st in the RTM standings...

Lacroix and Penge tap in for par - they're nice and settled in the top-two positions on the leaderboard.

CLUB DE GOLF ALCANADA

In case you were wondering what Club de Golf Alcanada is like to play, the location for this week's Challenge Tour Grand Final, we've got you covered. Have a look at the link above to find out all the key details.

BUBBLE BOYS THREATEN TO POP

Suri (27th) makes bogey on eight courtesy of a missed short putt and loudly curses before tapping in. Moments later, Robinson-Thompson (21st) slings one out of bounds left off the tee and is forced to drop ahead of his third shot. The Englishman now needs to chip in from off the front of the green if he is to not drop back.

Having dropped out of the top-21 for the first time today, Vaillant (22nd) has a birdie chance to recover on the seventh via a wonderful iron approach.

PENGE AND VAILLANT BAG BIRDIES

Penge finally finds a birdie! A tricky right-to-left slider puts him three shots clear at the top. He's back to level par for the day and looking all-but home and dry already.

And now Vaillant secures a birdie too! They're all at it. Robinson-Thompson has just recorded his second double bogey of the day and has dropped out of the top-21. Both of those incidents mean the Frenchman is back up to 16th. What drama!

FOUR PLAYERS UNDER PAR

The pressure appears to be mounting on everyone as Lacroix sends a wild drive out of bounds left off the tee on the 8th. Only a quartet of this field are under par for the entire event. Penge, Lacroix, Vaillant, and Sam Bairstow. Tough sledding.

VAILLANT ON THE SLIDE

Penge produces a lovely bunker shot to escape from the 8th with a par. He popped the ball back in his stance, leant slightly forward, and whipped his ball up into the air before watching it rip to the right and stop a couple of feet away.

Lacroix does well to only drop a single shot via a two-putt from range, but Vaillant misses a painfully-close tap in and also falls back to three-under. This putting performance is the stuff of nightmares for Vaillant.

CASEY JARVIS ON THE HUNT

Even though Penge holds a four-shot lead in this final event of the campaign, Casey Jarvis is lighting it up on the back nine and is currently projected to win the season title. The South African has managed four birdies in his past five holes to fire himself up to sixth on the leaderboard at one-over.

LEAD OUT TO FIVE

Penge rolls home an eight-foot birdie putt with ice in his veins. He looks like he's playing a different course today. That would appear the case, especially in relation to his playing partners as Lacroix bogeys the ninth.

Meanwhile, Tom Vaillant's nightmare day continues as he sees a horrible lip-out. His puppy-dog eyes after tapping in for bogey tell their own story. He wants the ground to swallow him up after a fifth bogey on the front nine. But he's still 21st in the RTM Rankings and he has the scoreable back nine to come. Come on, Tom. Keep going.

OFF-COLOUR PENGE LEADS BY SEVEN

On the TV coverage, they have just revealed that Penge is drinking Coca Cola as he's been struggling with cramp and feeling a little unwell so far this week. He's now out to nine-under and leads by seven after draining a winding putt from his left. 

Elsewhere, good news for Vaillant! He rolls in a mid-range par putt to remain at two-under for the tournament. The Frenchmen are still fighting here - both Vaillant and Lacroix escape with pars thanks to a pair of class bunker escapes.

YOUNG, WILD, AND CASEY

The youngest player in the field, Casey Jarvis, fires in a massive par putt - both in length and meaning - to remain top of the RTM Rankings. Despite carding an 80 on Thursday, the 20-year-old has ended the week one-over thanks to a final round of five-under. There had never been a South African Challenge Tour winner, until 2023. Casey Jarvis has a strong chance to do it.

MANLEY WON'T WATCH

Based on the current projected rankings, Welshman Stuart Manley is set to be the final man to secure a full-time DP World Tour card. The 44-year-old, speaking to Sky Sports, says he won't be watching the coverage this afternoon. Maybe he'll be reading this instead? Hi Stuart! Fingers crossed for you! 

ELVIRA JOINS HIS BROTHER ON TOUR

Manuel Elvira signs off on seven-under par and will join his brother Nacho on the DP World Tour next season. A Fitzpatrick v Elvira foursomes would be good to watch at some point...

VAILLANT PULLS ONE BACK

While Penge and Lacroix are unable to find a four on the par-5 11th, Tom Vaillant does roll a putt in to move back to three-under. He's now second on his own and finally has a much-needed shot of confidence.

Elsewhere, one of the players who could move back to level par and potentially cost Jarvis the Challenge Tour title - Robinson-Thompson - has scrambled a par and continues to play with a smile on his face. What a great attitude BRT appears to have.

ROAD TO MALLORCA STANDINGS

We are coming down the closing stretch in Mallorca. This is how the current season standings lie around the all-important mark.

• 18th - Brandon Stone
• 19th - Max Rottluff
• 20th - Stuart Manley
• 21st - Sam Bairstow
• CUT-OFF LINE
• 22nd - Benjamin Follett-Smith
• 23rd - Jamie Rutherford
• 24th - Ashley Chesters
• 25th - Euan Walker
• 26th - Brandon Robinson-Thompson

PENGE LEADS BY SEVEN WITH SIX HOLES TO GO

After the Englishman pars the 12th, he is back up to first in the RTM standings as well due to a handful of birdies by the field, dropping Casey Jarvis back into a tie for seventh. Meanwhile, Vaillant succumbs to a sixth bogey of the day, immediately after finding his second birdie. 

MANASSERO IS BACK ON TOUR

From an almost identical spot to Jarvis earlier, Matteo Manassero sends in a magnificent putt to finish off his season in style.

VAILLANT RESPONDS AS PENGE KICKS ON

The Vaillant fist-pump is back. The Frenchman pops a lovely chip onto the green at 13 and watches on as it releases to about a foot away from the hole. He's back to three-under via a birdie.

Lacroix can't even find the green with his first chip and he will throw away a chance to take a shot from the course. He remains at two-under.

Guess who's slotted home another birdie, though? Penge pushes his ball up the hill and tumbling into the cup for 10-under par. Four birdies in seven holes for Marco.

ROBINSON-THOMPSON FIGHTS ON

Just before Penge escaped with a par on 14, Brandon Robinson-Thompson found another birdie to move back to level par for the tournament. As things stand, the Englishman is projected 23rd on the RTM. He probably needs one more birdie to make it, although that would be bad news for Stuart Manley.

PENGE CLOSES IN ON VICTORY

Vaillant rolls in a brilliant birdie on 15 to continue his upward turn, and he is closely followed by compatriot, Lacroix. They are four-under and three-under, respectively.

But Penge upstages both of them via yet another birdie, and he is seven shots clear with only three holes to play. This has been an outstanding performance by the Englishman.

OUTSTANDING VIEWS IN MALLORCA

What a backdrop to play golf against...

STUNNING FROM BRT

Robinson-Thompson needed two birdies on his final two holes to usurp Manley into the final RTM spot, and he's completed the first half of his task in some style! After pushing his tee shot right on the par-three 17th, BRT faced some 50 feet of straight putt before the hole. In truth, it looked in all the way. The Englishman is one-under for the event and within a shot of booking his DP World Tour card.

ONE PUTT TO CHANGE IT ALL

Bairstow and Robinson-Thompson have played strong approach shots into the 18th green. The former is in a stronger position, in terms of a top-21 finish, while the latter effectively faces one shot to decide whether he makes it or not. This is incredible drama!

ROBINSON-THOMPSON MISSES BIRDIE PUTT

That looks like it could be it, then! Robinson-Thompson is projected to end 22nd while Stuart Manley holds onto the final card. The putt from BRT just slid to the right from 15 feet. Moments later, Sheffield's Sam Bairstow taps home to finish 18th.

PENGE MAKES BOGEY

Well, goodness me! Marco Penge has missed a putt. That seven-shot lead reduces slightly after the Englishman misses right from eight feet on 17. He's still six shots in front going down the last, mind...

Tom Vaillant has been a rollercoaster ride to watch this afternoon. He will be superb on the DP World Tour. The Frenchman pops a 100-foot putt slightly into the air upon contact, but the ball still trickles its way down to hole-side. He gives several smaller fist pumps in a row. He loves it!

Lacroix just about misses from range, but he's still in for par. 

One hole to go...

CLASSY APPROACHES FROM FINAL GROUP

After all three in the final group find the fairway on 18, Penge sticks it on the right side of the green, Lacroix finds the left portion, but Vaillant flicks a superb approach just behind the flag and will have a straightforward birdie chance.

The trio bask in a warm round of applause as they make their way onto the green, and they can all take a huge sigh or relief - it's almost a done deal.

PENGE WINS CHALLENGE TOUR GRAND FINAL AND SECURES NUMBER ONE RANKING IN ROAD TO MALLORCA

That was outstanding form Marco Penge. The whole day - after the first hole - has featured simply stunning golf. Penge taps in for par and a final round of 69, clinching the Challenge Tour Grand Final title and the number one spot on the Road To Mallorca.

Tom Vaillant ends on four-under in second after a final-day 74, while Frederic Lacroix shot 71 on Sunday to finish third on three-under.

Final Road To Mallorca Rankings to follow...

FINAL ROAD TO MALLORCA RANKINGS

• 1st - Marco Penge
• 2nd - Casey Jarvis
• 3rd - Manuel Elvira
• 4th - Ugo Coussaud
• 5th - Jesper Svensson
• 6th - Adam Blomme
• 7th - Lorenzo Scalise
• 8th - Andrea Pavan
• 9th - Matteo Manassero
• 10th - Ricardo Gouveia
• 11th - Alex Fitzpatrick
• 12th - Tom Vaillant
• 13th - Frederic Lacroix 
• 14th - Francesco Laporta
• 15th - Will Enefer
• 16th - Ivan Cantero
• 17th - Joel Girrbach
• 18th - Sam Bairstow
• 19th - Brandon Stone
• 20th - Maximillian Rottluff
• 21st - Stuart Manley
• CUT-OFF LINE
• 22nd - Brandon Robinson Thompson
• 23rd - Benjamin Follett-Smith
• 24th - Jamie Rutherford
• 25th - Ashley Chesters
• 26th - Euan Walker
• 27th - Oliver Farr
• 28th - JJ Senekal
• 29th - Conor Purcell
• 30th - Julian Suri