Andy DevaneyThere are plenty of ways to make your way up a Qualifying School leaderboard. Tadeáš Tetak chose the rather emphatic approach on Saturday, rattling off nine birdies in a bogey-free 62 to grab the outright lead at DP World Tour Final Stage Qualifying School in Spain.
The 26-year-old Slovakian was particularly ruthless on the closing stretch of INFINITUM’s Lakes Course, coming home in just 29 strokes to reach 14 under par after two rounds.
That leaves him one clear of South Korea’s Eunshin Park and Spain’s Jose Luis Ballester, both at 13 under, with the field having completed its first rotation across the Lakes and Hills courses.
And while Tetak has every reason to enjoy the view from the top, there is a small matter of four rounds still to play.
Nine Birdies, No Bogeys and a Back Nine to Remember
Tetak’s round began quietly enough, at least by the standards he would eventually set.
Two birdies on his opening nine holes took him to the turn in 33, before the scoring gathered considerable momentum.
Three birdies between the tenth and 13th holes put him firmly in contention, but it was his finish that separated him from the chasing pack.
Four consecutive birdies to close. A back-nine 29. A scorecard without a single bogey.
It was the sort of finish that can transform a perfectly respectable round into something considerably more memorable.
“It’s been two great days of golf and I have zero complaints. I’ve stayed patient and the birdies have started falling and I’ve been hitting some great shots. It’s a marathon not a sprint this week and it’s nice to be in the position I’m in but there’s plenty of golf left.”
A Familiar Venue, but the Hills Await
Tetak knows INFINITUM rather well. He successfully came through Final Stage Qualifying School at the Tarragona venue in 2024, securing his place on the DP World Tour.
The interesting part is how he managed it.
During that qualifying campaign, Tetak played his four rounds on the Lakes Course in a combined 21 under par. His two visits to the Hills Course, however, produced a combined score of three over.
Sunday’s third round takes him back to the Hills, where maintaining his advantage may prove a sterner assignment than Saturday’s birdie-filled afternoon.
His confidence, understandably, is in reasonable shape.
“It’s definitely a confidence boost [to go bogey free] especially on the Hills because that can get tricky as everyone knows in this field. I’m really happy with the first 36 but there’s still 72 left and a lot can change.”
That last point is worth remembering. With 72 holes remaining, a one-shot lead offers encouragement rather than anything approaching security.
Park and Ballester Keep the Pressure On
Tetak’s 62 may have taken the headlines, but the chasing pack has hardly been standing around admiring the scenery.
Eunshin Park delivered Saturday’s lowest score on the more demanding Hills Course, signing for a seven-under-par 65 to move to 13 under.
The South Korean is another player familiar with INFINITUM, having previously competed at Final Stage Qualifying School there in 2017.
His return is driven by a clear ambition to establish himself on the DP World Tour, having watched fellow Korean professionals pursue opportunities on the European circuit.
Ballester, meanwhile, has produced a spectacular turnaround of his own.
The Spaniard began Friday’s opening round with two bogeys but has since accumulated 16 birdies, including six consecutive gains on Saturday, to join Park one shot behind Tetak.
American Jhared Hack sits alone in fourth at 12 under, following his opening 63 on the Lakes with a four-under-par 68 on the Hills.
Another six players share fifth at 11 under: Sweden’s David Nyfjall, Australia’s Jack Buchanan, Denmark’s Marcus Helligkilde, Spain’s Pablo Larrazábal, Italy’s Edoardo Molinari and France’s Paul Beauvy.
Sunday’s Third Round Could Reshape the Leaderboard
The third round begins at 9 am local time on Sunday, with Tetak, Ballester and Park grouped together for an 11 am start on the Hills Course.
For Tetak, there is an intriguing contrast between what he achieved on Saturday and what awaits him next.
The Lakes Course has once again proved a happy hunting ground. The Hills was considerably less accommodating during his successful qualifying campaign two years ago.
A 62 has put him in charge. How he handles the change of scenery could tell us considerably more about his chances of staying there.
