Vidal Maintains Lead in Tough Conditions at Novo Sancti Petri

At Iberostar Real Golf Novo Sancti Petri today, Quim Vidal did exactly what you need to do when the fairways are tight and the breeze won’t let you sleep: he kept his head down, took what the course gave him, and walked off the 18th green still leading.

The Spaniard’s three under 69 was no carnival ride—more a steady march under a steely Spanish sky, keeping him one stroke ahead of Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy heading into the weekend.

A Steady Hand and a Birdie to Finish

Vidal started the day with a one-shot lead and ended it exactly where he began—proof that sometimes the biggest drama in golf is no drama at all.

Five birdies and two bogeys may not have raised eyebrows in the gallery, but in Cadiz, where every fairway feels like a tightrope, it was more than enough to keep him in front.

“I played really nice, and I was very consistent,” he said afterwards, the relief in his voice as clear as the sea breeze. “I didn’t make many mistakes, and it was great to finish with a birdie. My game feels very solid and I’m striking the ball very nicely.”

Novo Sancti Petri’s Test

The Jack Nicklaus design here doesn’t offer much in the way of mercy. Narrow landing zones, swirling breezes, and greens that can send a man to confession if he’s not careful.

Vidal knew it—he spoke about the importance of keeping the ball in play, of managing his misses like a man who’s seen enough double bogeys to last a lifetime.

“It’s so important to be in good positions off the tee because the fairways are very tight. You have to keep the ball in play and also make up and downs whenever you miss the green,” he said.

And that closing birdie? The sort of punctuation that sends a message to the rest of the field: I’m still here, and I’m not going anywhere.

The Chasers Gather

Guillamoundeguy sits just a shot back, four under on the day and clearly in no mood to play second fiddle all weekend.

Behind him, Spain’s own Rocco Repetto Taylor and Mario Galiano Aguilar are lurking at six under, while Victor Pastor and Joshua Grenville-Wood from the UAE keep the top of the board honest at five under.

It’s the sort of leaderboard that keeps things interesting—tight enough to tempt but with enough daylight for the leader to still sleep easy tonight.

A Chance to Join History

For Vidal, it’s not just about another weekend in the sun. He’s chasing the chance to join Pep Anglès, the only Spaniard to lift this trophy back in 2020, and he knows what it would mean.

“It would be amazing to win on home soil because we have such great support this week,” he said. And he’s right. You can feel the pride in every Spanish step on these fairways.

Don’t Blink

Don’t even think about turning away. Vidal’s poised and the chasers are hungry, and there’s nothing quite like a Sunday showdown on Spanish soil.

The wind will howl, the fairways will narrow, and someone will have to find that extra gear. I’d bet good money it’ll be worth the watch.