Spain’s Alvaro Hernandez Cabezuela produced a dazzling performance on day one of the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge supported by the Finnish Golf Union, carding a flawless nine-under-par 63 to take the early lead.
Starting his round from the tenth hole at Vierumäki Resort, the 28-year-old made an electric start with three birdies and an eagle on his front nine, turning in just 31 shots. He maintained his momentum coming home with four more birdies, setting the target at nine under par one shot clear of Aron Zemmer of Italy, Daniel Rodriguez of Portugal, and Germany’s Anton Albers.
Hernandez Cabezuela admitted his delight at the low round, especially after a run of disappointing results.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “I haven’t been playing well recently, so to start with a round like this is very positive. Hopefully, I can carry it on for the rest of the week.”
The Spaniard credited a touch of fortune as well, recalling two chips that struck the flagstick and dropped into the hole.
“I would’ve been happy just to get them within 15 feet, but luck was on my side,” he explained.
Strong iron play gave him plenty of chances throughout the day, and although he felt he left some opportunities out there, he was satisfied with the start.
Despite missing the cut in both of his previous appearances on the 2025 Road to Mallorca, Hernandez Cabezuela believes this round could signal a turning point.
“My ball-striking has been very good over the last few years, and I’ve worked hard on my short game. Hopefully, I can take this good energy into tomorrow.”
Behind the leaders, a group of six players sit tied for fifth on seven under par, including South Africa’s Wilco Nienaber, Scotland’s David Law, Englishmen Josh Berry and George Mason, along with Dutch duo Vince van Veen and Lars van Meijel.
Round two begins Friday at 7:30am local time, with Hernandez Cabezuela teeing off alongside Switzerland’s Jeremy Freiburghaus and Ireland’s Robert Moran at 12:40pm.
About the HotelPlanner Tour
The HotelPlanner Tour, formerly the Challenge Tour, had its first official season in 1989, and has developed into a proven training ground, where the champions-in-waiting compete across the globe for a place on the DP World Tour.
Many players who have progressed from the HotelPlanner Tour have gone on to become Major Champions including Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick and Brooks Koepka and Ryder Cup stars, such as Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai Højgaard and Tyrrell Hatton.
Using its vast international schedule and relationships with golf federations and PGAs, the HotelPlanner Tour is widely accessible to professionals from across the globe, giving players from developing golfing nations the opportunity to test their skill amongst some of the most talented up and coming stars in world golf.
HotelPlanner, a leading travel technology company, has been the title partner of the HotelPlanner Tour since the start of the 2025 season.
About the European Tour group
The European Tour group administers the DP World Tour, the HotelPlanner Tour, the Legends Tour and the G4D Tour and, as the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe LLP, stages golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup, in partnership with the PGA of America.
The European Tour group has Strategic Partnerships with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour, the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, the China Golf Association (CGA), the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India. These partnerships provide global pathways for players from across the world to compete internationally on the DP World Tour, the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group which was established in 1972, as well as the HotelPlanner Tour.
