Asian Tour Book 2024

EXPERIENCE IS KEY FOR SCHOOL VETERANS SWEDE BROBERG TOPS CLASS OF 2024 Kristoffer Broberg [right] stormed through on the final day with three eagles. I n the pressure-cooker atmosphere of tournament golf, there’s simply no substitute for experience. Even more so at the business end of a cut-throat qualifying school. No surprise, therefore, that included among the 35 individuals who secured their full playing rights for the 2024 Asian Tour season via the Final Stage of Qualifying School were more than a dozen past Tour winners. Their number was made up of numerous hard-nosed thirtysomethings who have learned what it takes to get a job done on the golf course. Leading the way at traditional Asian Tour Qualifying School venues Lakeview Resort and Golf Club and Springfield Royal Country Club in Hua Hin was Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg. A 37-year-old who turned professional in 2010, Broberg’s curriculum vitae includes two victories on the DP World Tour, the most recent coming at the 2021 Dutch Open. Other ‘seasoned’ campaigners to keep their calm were 31-year-old Korean Junggon Hwang, 33-year-olds Carlos Pigem of Spain and American John Catlin, plus Australian Sam Brazel, a veritable veteran at 45. All arrived in the Land of a Thousand Smiles with impressive credentials. While Hwang had four wins in Japan under his belt, Pigem spent six years on the Asian Tour, winning the 2016 Yeangder Tournament Players Championship. Catlin, meanwhile, was a three-time winner on the DP World Tour and four- time champion on the Asian Tour. Victorious in the 2016 Hong Kong Open, Brazel drew on two decades of experience as a professional to see him through the gruelling Thailand examination. Echoing the sentiments of many of the qualifiers, Brazel said: “Well I have a lot of experience – and that served me well. Experience is key at Q School.” Broberg’s closing six-under-par 66 was remarkable for the fact that it included three eagles. “It feels pretty good. I 27 A S I A N TOUR QUA L I F Y I NG SCHOOL - F I NA L STAGE L A K E V I EW R E S O R T A N D GO L F C L U B | S P R I N G F I E L D ROYA L CO U N T RY C L U B J A N UA RY 1 6 - 2 0 , 2 0 2 4