UAE Challenge champion Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen secured automatic promotion to the DP World Tour following his third victory of the season at the Big Green Egg German Challenge powered by VcG.
The Dane entered the final round six shots off the lead but carded a brilliant eight under par round of 64 to reach 15 under and move to the top of the leaderboard at Wittelsbacher Golfclub, one clear of countryman John Axelsen and Scotland’s Daniel Young who shared second place.
The 25-year-old becomes the first player to win three times during a regular Challenge Tour season since England’s Aaron Rai in 2017.
“I really can’t explain how I am feeling right now,” he said. “It all clicked today and I never thought it would be possible to shoot eight under par on this course. My round was as perfect as a golf round could be.
“I did a good job at staying in the present on each hole and the way I responded to my only bogey at 14 was really impressive. Anything is possible in this game and I’m so happy.
“My goal at the start of the season was to finish in the top 20 but I could never have imagined my season would go the way it did. It’s been an awesome year and the Challenge Tour has been a great learning ground for me and I’ve developed a lot as a professional golfer.”
Neergaard-Petersen secured his second victory of the season at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club earlier this year when he picked up a second Challenge Tour title in three events at the UAE Challenge.
The tournament also saw Dubai amateur Oscar Craig, who had stepfather Tommy Fleetwood as his caddie all week, make the cut on his Challenge Tour debut.
As well as securing his playing privileges on golf’s Global Circuit for 2025, Neergaard-Petersen can also play on the DP World Tour for the remainder of the current season.
“The Challenge Tour is such a good platform for us to get on to the DP World Tour,” he said. “You see how successful the graduates have been down the years and that gives me a huge amount of confidence.
“I’m so excited to play on the DP World Tour for the rest of the season. It’s going to be a special experience and I’m going to enjoy myself as much as possible. Hopefully I will have time to celebrate this victory first.”
