Asian Tour Book 2024

played great and putted really well. I tried to be more relaxed, like a practice round,” said Broberg. Catlin, who bases himself in Hua Hin for much of the year, said: “I’m thrilled to have my playing status back in Asia. I wasn’t able to fulfil my quota of events last year so had to come back to school. This Tour is where it all started for me. My game is in good shape, and I’m excited about the year ahead.” Sam Brazel [far left] and Kristoffer Broberg [left] qualified after drawing on a wealth of experience. Pigem was equally delighted – and relieved. He said: “I really enjoyed my six years in Asia. I lost my card in 2018, but then had the chance to play on the DP World Tour for three years and two years on Challenge Tour. It’s really nice to get my card back and play again in Asia.” Other past winners to regain their playing rights were Thai Danthai Boonma and Korean Jeunghun Wang. Danthai won the 2015 World Classic Championship and the 2022 Bangladesh Open, while Wang is a three-time champion on the DP World Tour and a winner on the Asian Tour. National Service in Korea in 2021 and 2022 meant his career was put on hold but he’s now focused on getting back to his best. Not all the Qualifying School successes were grizzled veterans. Of the younger generation to gain their cards were Korean Wooyoung Cho, Australian Harrison Crowe and Japan’s Yuta Sugiura, all members of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation team that defeated their European Golf Association counterparts in the Ryder Cup-style Bonallack Trophy in Spain in August, 2023. All relinquished their amateur status shortly after. Second behind Broberg in the final standings was Shogenji Tatsunori, who won twice en route to topping the money list on Japan’s Challenge Tour in 2023. The 25-year-old Japanese said: “I just wanted to make the cut at each stage. I never thought I would come second. My putting made this possible and I stayed very calm and relaxed.” While China’s Ye Wocheng tied for 26th to earn his card through the school for the second year in a row. Four players had to endure a play-off for the 35th and final spot on offer. Ultimately, it went to Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura, who prevailed on the fourth extra hole over Chilean Matias Dominguez, with New Zealand’s Nick Voke and Japan’s Taihei Sato eliminated earlier. No fewer than 668 players from more than 35 countries were involved in the Qualifying tournament, including the six First Stage qualifiers in Australia, the United States and Thailand which saw 104 players make it through to Final Qualifying where they were joined by 115 other exempt hopefuls. 29 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