Three's a charm...

Harrogate’s John Parry guaranteed a place on next year’s main DPWorld Tour when he secured his third Challenge Tour win of the season in the Italian Open at Argentario Golf Club.

Parry, who turns 38 this month, started the final day two strokes clear and remained in front on another low scoring day in Tuscany, carding a three under par round of 68 to reach 18 under for the week and win by one shot from South African Justin Walters.

Parry joined Danish golfer Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen as the second three-time winner this season. It meant he could tee it up on the DPWorld Tour for the remainder of 2024 and the full 2025 Race to Dubai.

Parry overtook Neergaard-Petersen at the top of the Road to Mallorca Rankings for the first time this season with the Italian win, after his Delhi Challenge and Blot Open de Bretagne titles earlier this year.  

“It’s fantastic,” he said after his win. “I’ve got a free hit on the DPWorld Tour now for the rest of the season where you never know what can happen, and I’ve obviously got next year as well.

“Since I took the lead on day three, it’s been a bit of a grind but I’m obviously really happy.

“I wanted to try to get to 20 under par, and I thought if I got there someone would have to do very well to catch me. I wasn’t quite able to do that, and it was only really Justin that was pushing me at the end, so I could keep an eye on his score and play to that.”

Parry, who last tasted European tour victory in 2010, admits his Road to Mallorca campaign has reignited a belief in himself.

“Because it’s been a while since I’ve won before this year, it gives you that little spark that you can still do it.

“The other thing this season has done is help me to find that consistency. I’ve never won more than once before in a season so to win three times is a goal that I didn’t think was achievable. I’m over the moon.”

At the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca a strong second place finish by Neergaard-Petersen snatched the overall no.1 title ahead of second place Parry, who finished the tournament in a tie for 9th.