Asian Tour Yearbook: 2023

F I NA L STAGE QUA L I F Y I NG SCHOOL L A K E V I EW R E S O R T A N D GO L F C L U B , H UA H I N , T H A I L A N D | J A N UA RY 1 8 - 2 2 YOUNG JACK TRIUMPHS AFTER MARATHON MONTH OF GOLF THIRTY-FIVE PLAYERS SECURE PASSAGE ONTO BIGGEST SEASON IN HISTORY OF TOUR Jack Thompson (RIGHT) won Qualifying School with a brilliant five- round total of 22-under. A fter a three-year hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School returned in early 2023 and saw a total of 234 players compete over five pressure-packed rounds at Lake View Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand. Thirty-five Tour cards were up for grabs and a place on arguably in the biggest season in the history of the Asian Tour, thanks to its partnership with LIV Golf. Finals week brought to a culmination three months of qualifying which saw five first stage qualifying tournaments held – with the first of those staged in the United States in November. Impressively, five-hundred and sixty- three players entered the pre-qualifiers with 110 making it through to the finals, joining 124 exempt players, with 35 countries represented. It was Australian Jack Thompson who graduated with first class honours winning by two shots from countryman John Lyras and China’s Bai Zhengkai. Thompson, a professional for just two years, marked himself down as one to keep an eye out for as he closed with a five-under-par 66 for a five-round total of 22-under. Bai returned a 65 while Lyras, who started the day sharing the lead with Thompson, shot a 68 on a tension-filled day. American Michael Maguire (65) and Ye Wocheng (69) from China shared fourth, four back from the winner. Nine players, tied on eight under, competed in a sudden-death play-off for the last two cards which eventually went to Thomas Power Horan from Australia and England’s Ben Jones, after they both birdied the first. Remarkably, 24-year-old Thompson made it into the week by claiming the final qualifying berth at the First Stage Qualifying Section C tournament at Blue 27