Eugenio Chacarra Takes Commanding Lead at Open d'Italia
Chacarra Takes Charge at Open d'Italia
Eugenio Chacarra from Spain is on the brink of securing his second title of the DP World Tour season after an impressive six-under 65, which propelled him to a two-shot lead following the third round of the 83rd Open d'Italia at Circolo Golf Torino on Saturday.
Starting the day four strokes behind the leader, Joaquin Niemann, Chacarra, who previously won the Indian Open last year and the KLM Open this season, showcased his skills in challenging afternoon conditions, reaching a total of 17-under-par.
With momentum on his side, Chacarra aims for his second victory in just three weeks, while India's Yuvraj Singh Sandhu unfortunately missed the cut.
Chacarra began strong with a birdie on the first hole and added another at the seventh. He continued his ascent with two additional birdies before the turn, completing the front nine in 32. Despite a bogey at the 13th, he quickly regained his form with three more birdies, finishing with the best score of the day among the contenders.
Chacarra's Focus and Patience
Currently ranked sixth in the Race to Dubai Rankings, Chacarra attributed his success to his patience and disciplined strategy. "It wasn't easy out there," he remarked. "The wind was unpredictable, and the heat made the course tough. I believe I did a great job of staying patient, playing my game, and managing what I can control."
He emphasized that his concentration remains on his own game rather than the competition. "If I start worrying about what Joaquin or the others are doing, I'd drive myself crazy. There are many talented players behind me, and on this course, anyone can score low. I just need to keep focusing on my game and hope for a chance in the final stretch."
Niemann's Fall and Wallace's Steady Play
Joaquin Niemann, who led overnight, fell into a tie for second place after posting an even-par 71, leaving him at 15-under, alongside England's Matt Wallace. Niemann began strong with five birdies and only one bogey on the front nine but faced difficulties with three consecutive bogeys after the turn, which tightened the leaderboard. A birdie at the 17th was negated by a closing bogey, costing him the lead.
Wallace remained competitive, following up his record-equalling 62 from Friday with a solid four-under 67, mixing six birdies with two bogeys to join Niemann in second place. This sets up an exciting final group for Sunday, with three players separated by just two shots.
The Contenders Behind
In fourth place, Germany's Nicolai von Dellinghausen and Spain's Angel Ayora are tied at 13-under, while South Africa's Dylan Frittelli sits in sixth at 12-under. Denmark's Jeff Winther, who matched Wallace's course record earlier, and Scotland's Richie Ramsay are tied for seventh at 11-under, six shots off the lead but still in contention if conditions improve.
Changes to Final Round Schedule
Due to anticipated thunderstorms in the afternoon, tournament officials have modified the schedule and tee times for Sunday. The leading trio of Chacarra, Niemann, and Wallace will compete in the final group for the prestigious Italian Open title.