Matteo Cristoni fired a bogey-free nine under par 62 at DP World Tour Final Stage Qualifying School to lead by one after day four of six at INFINITUM.
The Italian made nine birdies around the Lakes Course on Monday to reach 24 under par for the tournament, putting him one ahead of Denmark’s Marcus Helligkilde and Spain’s Jose Luis Ballester, who share second position.
It means Cristoni sits five shots clear of 15th spot, the cut off to earn playing status on the DP World Tour, entering the final two rounds, with the cut after the fourth round leaving the top 60 and ties to battle it out for DP World Tour playing privileges over the next 36 holes on the Lakes Course in Tarragona.
"I played really solid, hit a lot of greens and made a lot of putts," he said. "You’re going to have opportunities so it’s just important to take advantage of those.
"I just tried to stick to my game, keep doing what I’m doing, and look for opportunities and take advantage.
"I’m just taking it one day at a time, I haven’t achieved anything yet so tomorrow I’m just going to try and have another really good day."
Beginning the day in a share of eighth position, Cristoni started well with a birdie at the opening par four.
Three more would follow on the opening nine, at the fifth, seventh and ninth to see the 24-year-old turn in 31 strokes.
The 2026 HotelPlanner Tour rookie kept his foot down on the back nine with a birdie on the 11th followed by consecutive gains on the 13th and 14th.
Cristoni then took advantage of the par five opportunities presented at the 16th and closing 18th to sign for a 62 and take the round four lead.
The Italian is no stranger to Final Stage Qualifying, having earned his playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour last season via the gruelling six-round marathon.
In the 2025 edition, Cristoni posted 69-67-72-65 over the first four rounds to guarantee playing rights on the pathway tour, before seeing his hopes of a DP World Tour card fade over the last two rounds with efforts of 74-75.
But Cristoni, who made it to the season-ending Grand Final on the HotelPlanner Tour last week to make sure he at least has status on the Road to Mallorca in 2027, will be hoping for a stronger final two rounds to keep his top fifteen berth.
"Being in the top 45 last week [at the HotelPlanner Tour Grand Final] took some pressure off this week because I already have HotelPlanner Tour status but obviously you want more so I’m just going to try and play my own game and we will see where we are in two days.
"I feel like I improved last season for sure, but I try to improve every day. Every day is a new day, I will have some opportunities tomorrow and me and my caddy will try and take advantage of those."
Hunting him down are the two 54-hole leaders Helligkilde and Ballester, who each shot four under par rounds of 67 to trail by one. Spain’s Rocco Repetto Taylor sits a shot further adrift on 22 under, alongside Scotland’s Ryan Lumsden, to round out the top five.
Round five gets under way on Tuesday at 9:00am with Cristoni teeing off at 10:55 alongside Helligkilde and Ballester.
