Phoenix 24
A brilliant third-round 65 placed the Spanish golfer two strokes clear before Sunday’s decisive battle in Turin.
Turin, June 2026
Eugenio López-Chacarra moved into the lead at the Italian Open after producing a commanding third-round performance that placed him in the strongest position to claim another major victory on the DP World Tour.
The Spanish golfer completed Saturday’s round in 65 strokes and reached a three-day total of 196, giving him a two-shot advantage over Chile’s Joaquín Niemann and England’s Matt Wallace heading into the final round.
López-Chacarra began the day close enough to challenge but still required an exceptional performance to overtake Niemann, who had occupied the leading position. The Spaniard responded with one of the most complete rounds of the tournament, combining accurate driving, controlled approach shots and the composure required to capitalize on his scoring opportunities.
His 65 allowed him to separate himself from a crowded leaderboard and turn Sunday’s final round into another important test of his development. López-Chacarra will now begin the last 18 holes as the player every contender must pursue.
Niemann surrendered the lead after recording a 71. The Chilean remained firmly involved in the title race, but his inability to reproduce the scoring rhythm of the previous rounds opened the door for López-Chacarra to take control.
Wallace also emerged as a serious challenger after signing for a 67. The Englishman joined Niemann at 198 strokes and will enter the final day only two behind the Spanish leader, close enough to punish any mistake at the top.
The narrow margin means López-Chacarra cannot approach the final round defensively. A two-shot advantage provides a valuable cushion, but it can disappear quickly on a course where several players have demonstrated the ability to produce low scores.
German golfer Nicolai von Dellingshausen delivered one of Saturday’s finest rounds with a 64, moving to 200 strokes and sharing fourth place. His surge reinforced the possibility that the championship could still be influenced by a player beginning Sunday outside the final pairing.
Spain’s Ángel Ayora also stood at 200 after completing his third round in 71. Ayora had started the day in second place but lost ground as López-Chacarra accelerated, leaving him four shots behind his compatriot.
The strong Spanish presence extended further down the leaderboard. Nacho Elvira and Alejandro del Rey remained inside the top ten with totals of 203 strokes, alongside Italy’s Guido Migliozzi.
Jorge Campillo reached 204 after a round of 71, keeping another experienced Spanish player within sight of a strong finish. The collective performance underlined the depth of Spanish golf during one of the DP World Tour’s most established national championships.
For López-Chacarra, however, the opportunity carries particular significance. His career has followed an unconventional path from elite American collegiate golf to LIV Golf and then back toward the traditional European circuit.
The Madrid-born player was once ranked among the world’s leading amateurs after representing Oklahoma State University. He turned professional in 2022 and immediately attracted attention by joining LIV Golf instead of following the standard route through developmental tours.
His early professional success arrived rapidly when he won in Bangkok during his first season. The victory demonstrated his natural talent and provided substantial financial rewards, but the following years did not produce the competitive development he expected.
López-Chacarra later acknowledged that he had lost some of his motivation while competing in the team-based league. He eventually left that environment and began rebuilding his career through events connected with the DP World Tour.
His victory at the Hero Indian Open in March 2025 became the decisive turning point. Competing through an invitation, he defeated a demanding course and a strong field to secure full status on the European circuit.
That success restored access to a pathway capable of taking him toward the objectives he had pursued since childhood: regular participation in major championships, a potential PGA Tour card and the possibility of representing Europe in the Ryder Cup.
The Italian Open now offers another opportunity to accelerate that journey. A victory would strengthen his position in the DP World Tour rankings, improve his world ranking and reinforce the argument that his return to traditional tournament golf has restored both his ambition and his competitive sharpness.
Saturday’s performance was especially encouraging because it arrived under increasing pressure. Golfers can produce low rounds early in tournaments when the consequences are limited, but scoring 65 while pursuing the lead requires emotional control as well as technical quality.
López-Chacarra maintained his aggression without allowing ambition to become recklessness. That balance will again determine his prospects on Sunday, when every decision will carry greater weight and the leaderboard will become increasingly difficult to ignore.
The final round presents several tactical challenges. Playing with the lead can change a golfer’s perception of risk, encouraging conservative choices that allow competitors to close the gap. The strongest approach may require López-Chacarra to continue attacking appropriate opportunities rather than attempting merely to protect his advantage.
Niemann represents a particularly dangerous rival because of his international experience and capacity to score quickly. Wallace also possesses the patience and technical reliability required to remain close throughout a final round.
Ayora and von Dellingshausen begin four strokes behind, but neither can be dismissed. An early run of birdies from one of the chasing players could immediately transform the pressure surrounding the leader.
López-Chacarra’s recent career has required him to reconsider what success means. His early years as a professional brought financial security, but his return to European competition was driven by the desire to measure himself through ranking points, historic tournaments and qualification for golf’s most important stages.
That context makes the Italian Open more than another chance to lift a trophy. It is part of an attempt to build a sustainable sporting legacy after choosing to leave a lucrative environment that no longer satisfied his competitive ambitions.
The Spaniard has spoken openly about wanting to improve rather than simply collect prize money. His position in Turin now gives him the opportunity to support those words with another high-level result.
Nothing has been decided after 54 holes. López-Chacarra possesses the lead, but Niemann, Wallace and the rest of the field remain close enough to transform the tournament with a single exceptional stretch.
Sunday will test his putting, course management and ability to respond when momentum inevitably changes. It will also reveal whether Saturday’s brilliant 65 was the foundation of a championship or merely one outstanding chapter in an unresolved contest.
For now, Eugenio López-Chacarra stands alone at the top of the Italian Open, two shots ahead and 18 holes away from another defining victory in his return to golf’s traditional competitive pathway.
El talento abre oportunidades, pero la serenidad decide quién logra convertirlas en victorias. / Talent creates opportunities, but composure decides who can turn them into victories.