Tranlate this title Liam Nolan wins the Abu Dhabi Challenge in spanish

Irishman Liam Nolan secured his first professional victory on the HotelPlanner Tour, finishing at -21 in the Abu Dhabi Challenge held at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club. It was a win built on great composure over the weekend, capped by a final round of 65 (-5) that allowed him to pull four strokes ahead of Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen, who finished second at -17.

Nolan, 26, started the day with a two-shot lead and handled the Middle Eastern conditions masterfully. A birdie on the driveable par-4 4th hole and three consecutive birdies in the middle of the round allowed him to extend his lead. A single bogey over the weekend, on the 16th, did not affect his margin, and a closing birdie on the par-5 18th sealed the triumph.

“It feels crazy,” the winner declared, highlighting the significance of sharing the victory with his caddie and longtime friend, Sean.

With this result, Nolan climbs 31 spots to 12th place on the Road to Mallorca rankings, moving into the promotion zone.

Liam Nolan, results

Matteo Cristoni delivered an excellent performance, finishing third at -16 with rounds of 65-68-66-65. It was a remarkably solid tournament that earned him a significant boost in the standings: today’s result moves Cristoni up to 27th place on the Road to Mallorca.

Finishing tied for fourth at -15 were Belgium’s Matthis Besard and France’s Bastien Amat.

The top five on the Road to Mallorca remain unchanged, with Sweden’s Christofer Blomstrand at the summit and South Africa’s MJ Daffue in second place.

The other Italians in the field, Lorenzo Scalise, Aron Zemmer, Jacopo Vecchi Fossa and Lapo Francesco Bisazza, failed to make the cut.

Cristoni will now compete in the upcoming events in China alongside Lorenzo Scalise, 54th, and Jacopo Vecchi Fossa, 68th. For the latter two, the goal is clear: break into the top 45 to qualify for the Grand Final in Mallorca at the end of the month, the final step toward securing DP World Tour cards.

The HotelPlanner Tour now moves to China for two consecutive events, starting with the Hainan Open, scheduled for October 8-11.

The HotelPlanner Tour returned to the United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi Challenge, taking place from September 30 to October 3 at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club. This was the final event before the “Chinese Swing” and the decisive race to Mallorca.

Matteo Cristoni, currently 51st in the Order of Merit following an impressive tied-sixth finish at the Open de Portugal, where he finished at -19 with a total of 265 strokes at PGA Aroeira 1, aimed to consolidate his position.

Joining him were Lorenzo Scalise, 53rd, Jacopo Vecchi Fossa, 64th, Aron Zemmer, 85th, and amateur Lapo Francesco Bisazza, who was competing on an invitation.

There was a lot at stake for the Italians: after Abu Dhabi, only the top 70 players in the Order of Merit were guaranteed a spot in the Chinese events.

The tour returned to Al Ain for the third time. Opened in 2007, the club was the region’s first grass course and ranks among the most highly regarded facilities in the UAE.

The Championship Course features numerous water hazards, particularly treacherous at the 16th and 17th holes, which could prove decisive. The par-5 10th hole, measuring 620 meters, is the longest in the United Arab Emirates. Despite the distance, the conditions in Al Ain might still tempt some players to try reaching the green in two.

Naturally, attention was focused on the top of the Road to Mallorca standings, where Christofer Blomstrand, MJ Daffue, Julien Sale and Pablo Ereño were vying for the lead. Pedro Figueiredo, Marc Warren and MJ Viljoen were also hovering near the promotion spots, looking to solidify their rankings ahead of the Grand Final in late October.