Two graduates in Mechanical Engineering, Ignacio Mateo (-7) from Galicia and Álvaro Morales (-7) from Ávila, both 24 years old, are the lucky ones who have obtained in the qualifying round the two tickets at stake to compete in the Spanish Men's Open presented by Madrid 2025, which will be played at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid from October 9 to 12.

Members of the PGA of Spain, demonstrating that academic training is a core part of their personal and sporting development, Ignacio and Álvaro were the best in a day of fantastic golf at the National Golf Center, which was in perfect condition, in addition to ideal weather; up to twenty-four players beat the Madrid course.

Ignacio Mateo had what was, as he recounted at the clubhouse, one of the best days of golf of his life. Six birdies and two eagles, largely due to his precision with the driver, set him on course for a near-perfect scorecard. His good feel for a brand-new putter did the rest.

Mateo overtook the clubhouse leader, Pablo Ereño (-6), midway through the day. Ereño, a Madrid native who turned professional this year, is already performing at a high level on the tours. The afternoon was filled with uncertainty as to whether any of the golfers on the course could match Ereño's -6 and force a playoff, a classic feature of this qualifying round. Then Alfonso Morales (-7) emerged, not only matching Ereño's score but surpassing it.

The player from Castile and León, also honed at the National Center after his time at the Blume National School, crafted a dream final nine holes, with five birdies between the 10th and 16th. No bogeys on the day for a player who is already looking to the Villa de Madrid with ambition: "I think a Top 20 or Top 30 finish would be good at the Open.".

At the very least, Ereño, Marcos Pastor (-5) and Javier Barcos (-5), one of the most in-form Spanish golfers, were left just short of at least having played a playoff.

Let us remember that this access route responds to the request of Spanish professionals expressed in previous years in order to offer a possibility to those players who do not have the cards that are usually required to participate in DP World Tour tournaments.