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Asian Tour Q-school expands to Australia and Japan

The 2007 Asian Tour Qualifying School will take on a new dimension with the expansion of the qualifying process to Australia and Japan.

Under this new initiative following closer cooperation between the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour Organisation and PGA Tour of Australasia, players who compete in the Qualifying Schools in Japan and Australia can simultaneously attempt to qualify for the Asian Tour Qualifying School, Final Stage.

The dates of the Asian Tour Qualifying School have also been brought forward to December, instead of its traditional dates of January due to a busy 2007 Asian Tour Schedule.

The First Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School will be held over three courses, Pattana Golf & Sports Resort, Phoenix Golf and Country Club and Plutaluang Golf Course, in Pattaya, Thailand from December 6-9. The all-important Final Stage, where 40 Tour cards are at stake, is slated at the Pattana Golf & Sports Resort and Phoenix Golf and Country Club from December 13-16.

In addition to the First Stage in Thailand, the PGA Tour of Australasia's First Stage and the Japan Tour's Final Stage of Qualifying Schools will, for the first time, act as qualifying events for the Asian Tour's Final Stage.

Asian Tour Chief Executive Louis Martin explained: "Qualifying School is such a demanding process but through this new development, we are allowing players in the Qualifying Schools in Australia and Japan an opportunity to also qualify for our Final Stage at the same time, without having to play in our First Stage in Thailand.

"This will lessen the burden and costs of having to travel to the various Tours' Qualifying Schools. I'm sure this decision will be well received by the players who intend to challenge for playing rights on the three Tours. We have worked closely together to ensure that this format works out smoothly."

The number of players who will qualify for the Asian Tour's Final Stage will not be less than 15% of the competitors entered for the First Stage in Australia (November 21-24) and the Final Stage in Japan (November 29-December 4).

The same percentage of 15% applies to the Asian Tour First Stage in Thailand.

"For example, if 100 players at the First Stage in Australia pay the entry fee for the Asian Tour Qualifying School, then the top-15 finishers will qualify for our Final Stage," said Martin.

The Asian Tour Final Stage will see a maximum field of 240 players competing for 40 Tour cards for the 2007 season.

Martin added that the Final Stages in Asia, Australia and Japan have been scheduled on different dates to avoid a clash, and allow players the best of three worlds.

Pattana Golf & Sports Resort General Manager Roland Zauner is looking forward to welcoming the Asian Tour Qualifying School hopefuls. "We are delighted to host this year's Qualifying School as it clearly represents a significant fortnight for the development of professional golf in Asia", said Zauner.

“We have recently changed our name to better reflect the extent of facilities provided and this event offers an excellent opportunity to promote them to a regional golfing audience. We are also currently renovating our greens to TifEagle - the first course on the Eastern Seaboard to use this revolutionary new turfgrass. Finally, as the Official Hotel, we greatly look forward to ensuring the players’ comfort in our hotel, Mansion and private villas”, he added.

August 29, 2006