UAE Challenge champion, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, has secured automatic promotion to the DP World Tour following his third victory of the season at the Big Green Egg German Challenge powered by VcG.

The Dane entered the final round six shots off the lead but carded a brilliant eight under par round of 64 to reach 15 under and move to the top of the leaderboard at Wittelsbacher Golfclub, one clear of countryman John Axelsen and Scotland’s Daniel Young who shared second place.

The 25-year-old becomes the first player to win three times during a regular Challenge Tour season since England’s Aaron Rai in 2017, and he was delighted to add this week’s victory to his Kolkata Challenge and UAE Challenge at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club earlier this year.

“I really can’t explain how I am feeling right now,” he said. “It all clicked today and I never thought it would be possible to shoot eight under par on this course. My round was as perfect as a golf round could be.

“I did a good job at staying in the present on each hole and the way I responded to my only bogey at 14 was really impressive. Anything is possible in this game and I’m so happy.

“My goal at the start of the season was to finish in the top 20 but I could never have imagined my season would go the way it did. It’s been an awesome year and the Challenge Tour has been a great learning ground for me and I’ve developed a lot as a professional golfer.”

Neergaard-Petersen credited the Challenge Tour for his remarkable developmment this year and he is looking forward to teeing it up on the DP World Tour for the remainder of the campaign.

“The Challenge Tour is such a good platform for us to get on to the DP World Tour,” he said. “You see how successful the graduates have been down the years and that gives me a huge amount of confidence.

“I’m so excited to play on the DP World Tour for the rest of the season. It’s going to be a special experience and I’m going to enjoy myself as much as possible. Hopefully I will have time to celebrate this victory first.”

Italian Pietro Bovari claimed fourth place on 13 under par, while Englishman Tom Shadbolt, Italy’s Gregorio de Leo, Jonas Baumgartner of Germany and Frenchman Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon were a shot further back in fifth.

Neergaard-Petersen moves to 1,442 points and extends his lead at the summit of the Road to Mallorca Rankings, while Young climbs 19 places into 26th following his runner up finish in Germany. England’s John Parry and Swede Joakim Lagregren remain in second and third respectively.

The Road to Mallorca now heads to Portugal for the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos, taking place from September 12-15, 2024.

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