Staff WriterJC Ritchie and Robin Petersson will head into the final round of the Italian Challenge Open with a two-shot cushion, locked together at 16-under par and staring down very different dreams.
For Ritchie, it’s a ticket back to the big leagues. For Petersson, it’s a chance to prove he belongs there in the first place.
The South African looked steady as a metronome on day three at Golf Nazionale, carding a tidy four-under-par 68. The Swede, meanwhile, ripped through the course like he’d stolen it, rolling in five birdies, holing out for eagle, and scribbling just a single bogey on his card for a six-under 66. That left them side by side at the top of the board, two shots clear of Englishman Steven Brown, who is lurking alone in third on 14-under.
For Ritchie, it’s déjà vu with higher stakes. Only last week he won the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos, his second triumph of the season. One more and he’ll punch his golden ticket: automatic promotion to the DP World Tour.
“It’s the ultimate goal to win three times,” Ritchie said. “To achieve that would be the biggest dream come true. It’s been on my mind for a while.
“For a couple of years, I’ve always felt like I’ve been capable of achieving it, but this is the first year I’ve felt like my game is in the position to try and backup that sort of statement.
“Tomorrow’s going to be fun. I’m going to enjoy it, I’ve got nothing to lose, and my game has been solid, so I’ll go at it.
“It’s going to take a lot of discipline. Hopefully the conditions stay tough, and I think you’re going to get rewarded if you hit good shots and punished if you hit bad ones.”
While Ritchie dreams of sealing the “perfect season,” Petersson is chasing his first HotelPlanner Tour victory and perhaps a lifeline for his career. Ranked 74th on the Road to Mallorca, he needs every scrap of momentum with the top 68 heading for back-to-back events in China next month.
“The last couple of weeks I’ve felt like I’ve struggled a bit off the tee, but I’ve found something this week,” Petersson said.
“It’s been a long season, I’ve had a few good finishes, and I know you’re not going to play well in every event, but it would be awesome to top it all off with a victory.
“I’m not sure I should think along those ways, but it would be awesome. I’m just looking forward to coming out tomorrow and we’ll see where I’m at.
“It’s kind of the last regular season event this week, and I knew I just needed to make the cut here. Having done that feels amazing. I still have one more day to play, but it looks very good for me to keep my card for next year.
“Maybe with a good finish tomorrow I can even contend for a DP World Tour card at the end of the year.”
Behind the leading duo, Dutchman Lars van der Vight, Spaniard Rocco Repetto Taylor, and fellow Swede Christofer Rahm all sit at 13-under, while four players—including home hope Lorenzo Scalise—are just one stroke further back.
Sunday at Golf Nazionale promises a shootout worthy of Italian drama. The Italian Challenge Open will tee off at 7:40 a.m. local time, with Ritchie, Petersson, and Brown in the final group at 11:30. By sundown, someone’s season could change forever.
