84 Australians line up for 2005 Asian Tour Q-School

BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2005 Asian Tour Q-School - Stage One | Preview | 01 Jan 2005

The Asian Tour Qualifying School in Johor, Malaysia in January has attracted 575 international players, including 84 Australians, who will battle for 40 Tour cards for the 2005 season.

Officials said the overwhelming response which includes players representing no fewer than 35 countries is the highest ever at the Qualifying School in Asia.

A total of 80 players, 20 from each Stage One venue, will then join 125 exempted players in the all-important Final Stage at Palm Resort’s Allamanda and Cempaka Courses from January 12-15, where the top-40 players and ties will earn their Asian Tour cards.

Some of the game’s future stars including the likes of India’s Shiv Kapur, gold medallist of the 2002 Asian Games in Korea, American Ty Tryon, Australian Luke Hickmott and former Tour winners Japan’s Satoshi Oide and Australian David Gleeson will battle for playing opportunities on the Asian Tour.

Asian Tour Chief Executive Louis Martin said the strong response was an indication of the Tour’s growing strength. In 2004, the Asian Tour offered 22 tournaments with total prize money of US$12.3 million, the highest ever in the region.

“The response for the Asian Tour Qualifying School is simply overwhelming,” said Martin today. “We were anticipating approximately 400 players for both stages but to receive nearly 600 entries is a sign that the Asian Tour has gained acceptance as one of the main Tours in the world. We have announced a strong first half schedule for 2005 and I’m sure that this has contributed to so many players competing in Johor.”

The Asian Tour recently announced the first half of its 2005 schedule which will include a minimum of 14 tournaments offering over US$11 million in prize money. Martin said that the Tour is anticipating a full schedule of 25 tournaments for the new season.

The highest number of entries was received from Japanese players, totalling 118. Australia was next with 84 players entered. The Qualifying School has also drawn entries from golfing minnows such as Laos and Nigeria.

Nine Malaysians will feature in Stage One while four others – Rashid Ismail, Airil Rizman, Shaaban Hussein and P. Gunasegaran – have been exempted into the Final Stage. One of the youngest players in the field will be local pro Hanapiah Jamil, who is 17 years of age.

“The Qualifying School will be a stern challenge for the hopefuls,” said Martin. "There is a belief that the Qualifying School creates as much pressure as playing in a Major as players are battling for their careers and the pressure is simply immense.

“There are many talented and upcoming players in the Qualifying School. Shiv Kapur is a promising prospect. Having turned professional last year, he has already won a couple of events on the Indian circuit while Ty Tryon was the youngest ever to earn a US PGA Tour card in 2001 at the age of 17 years.

“The strength of the field will also see the likes of Filipino Gerald Rosales, Singaporean Lam Chih Bing and some other former Tour regulars fighting hard to earn their cards for 2005,” added Martin.

The School will be conducted in two stages of stroke play:

Qualifying School Stage 1
All players in Stage 1 will play 18 holes on the Allamanda Course and another 18 holes on the Cempaka Course. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the leading 140 players ties who will go forward to contest the final 36 holes over the Cempaka Course.

The number of players qualifying to proceed to the Final Stage will be announced prior to 1st round. It will not be less than 40.

Qualifying School Final Stage (72 holes scheduled) 12th – 15th January Palm Resort Golf & Country Club, Senai, Johor, Malaysia

Exempt from Stage 1 and eligible for the Final Stage

• Asian Tour Order of Merit Winners from 1995 not otherwise exempt on the Asian Tour
• Asian Tour Tournament winners from 2002 not otherwise exempt on the Asian Tour
• Winners of the Asian Tour Qualifying Schools from 1999 – 2004 not otherwise exempt
• Players finishing in 61st – 100th position and those tying in 100th position where applicable on the Asian Tour Final Order of Merit 2004
• 25 players nominated by recognised National PGA’s of Asia or recognised Golf Tours of Asia
• The leading 30 players not otherwise exempt and within the top 50 as at 15th December 2004 on the US PGA or Japan Golf Tour Organisation or European Tour Order of Merits
• The leading 20 players not otherwise exempt and within the top 30 as at 15th December 2004 on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
• The leading 5 players not otherwise exempt and within the top 30 on the 2003/2004 final Southern Africa (Sunshine) Tour Order of Merit
• The leading 3 players not otherwise exempt and within the top 10 as at 15th December 2004 on the Nationwide Tour
• The leading player not otherwise exempt and within the top 10 as at 15th December 2004 on the Canadian Tour Order of Merit
• The leading player not otherwise exempt and within the top 10 as at 15th December 2004 on the Tour de las Americas Order of Merit
• Players in 21st to 40th position from the Asian Tour’s Career Money List as at 15th December 2004 who are otherwise not exempt
• Members of the current Putra, Nomura, Eisenhower or Walker Cup Teams
• Current World Cup Team members
• Nominations of the Asian Tour Board at their discretion up to a maximum of 10

The Final Stage is scheduled to be played over 72 holes at the Cempaka Course of the Palm Resort Golf & Country Club. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the leading 80 players and ties who will play an additional 36 holes. At the conclusion of 72 holes, all players shall be ranked by card play-off with the

Source – Asian Tour