Springfield Royal’s C&B nines and Lake View’s C&D layouts will be used for the five-round event, which will be played from January 16-20.

Springfield Royal and Lake View will be used for the first four days while Springfield Royal will stage the all-important final round.

Both clubs have regularly hosted the Qualifying School over the past two decades and are fitting venues for such an important tournament that decides the future of so many talented golfers.

A total of 35 Tour cards will be awarded with another pressure-packed week filled with drama expected.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO Asian Tour said: “We are pleased to confirm final details for the 2024 Asian Tour Qualifying School – which helps set the scene for the new season.

“In Springfield Royal Country Club and Lake View Resort and Golf Club we have two tried and trusted venues who will ensure a smooth-running event that will allow us to get the year off to a perfect start.”

Qualification for places in the Final Stage are already well underway with First Round Qualifiers having taken place in Australia, the United States and last week in Thailand.

A total of 43 players have secured their places in the Final Stage, with three more First Stage Qualifiers remaining, all to be played in Thailand.

At the Final Stage the top 140 players (and ties) after 36 holes will progress to round three and four. The top 70 players (and ties) after 72 holes will play in the final round, which will be held on January 20. At the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 will be ranked accordingly for the 2024 season.

For the 2023 Qualifying School, 563 players entered the pre-qualifiers with 110 making it through to the finals, joining 124 exempt players, with 35 countries represented.

Australian Jack Thompson graduated top of the class and went on to enjoy a fine rookie season finishing in 48th place on the Order of Merit, with four top-15 finishes in 17 starts.

The Asian Tour’s 2024 schedule will be announced shortly.

Today’s venue announcement is an update as Lake View was previously planned to host the entirety of the Final Stage at its 36-hole facility.

Image: Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour

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The 33-year-old Swiss national team representative carded a second successive 73 at Suvarnabhumi Golf & Country Club Thursday to miss the cut in the final stage of qualifying by six shots.

Harradine’s heartache was matched by reigning MENA Tour order-of-merit champion Craig Hinton after a second round 74 saw the Englishman also fade to +2 and an inconsequential share a 193^rd place.

Middle East interest is now focused on two-time MENA Tour winner Luke Joy who snuck into the weekend on the number, -4, following a second successive 70. Joy was one of 30 players in a share of 92^nd place; the top 80 and ties made the cut.

Australian Todd Sinnot backed up his opening 64 with a seven-under 65 to remain atop the leaderboard in Thailand where the top 35 and ties earn tour cards for 2017. Sinnot was joined at -15 by countryman Richard Green following a sizzling 63 from the former Dubai Desert Classic champion, and Japan’s Junya Kameshiro.

Harradine was close to abandoning his dream of a professional career six weeks ago but found some surprising form in the first stage of qualifying, finishing equal top of his section B tournament on a different course at Suvarnabhumi.

But the short game he used to finish -22 in the first stage deserted him the past two days and left him contemplating the future.

“To be honest, I am not too sure,” said the Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club member of his next move.

“Like I said, I was set on putting away the clubs a few months ago but now I am not too sure. I would love to be able to play golf professionally and actually make a living out of it but who wouldn’t. I am going to have to have a think about it when I get back to Dubai and see. “

Harradine had been worried about an uncooperative driver heading into the final stage but it turned out to be the rock of his game.

“I only just missed two fairways yesterday which got me into way more trouble than they should have and hit every fairway today,” he said.

“The strongest part of my game last week [his short game and putting] was what I really struggled with these two rounds. My distance control was horrendous, couldn’t get any wedges close enough for an easy birdie.

“Last week it felt like I couldn’t miss a putt, instead now I felt like I had no feel whatsoever… that’s golf I guess.”

Two three putts in his first four holes Thursday was a deflating start for Harradine in a round where he knew he needed to go low.

“I slowly managed to get it back to -1 after 10 and at that point I thought that if I could get another four birdies, I might have a chance of making the cut. But I stupidly went for a pin that I shouldn’t have on 11 with a 3 iron which ended up in a double.

“That took any wind I had left out of my sails that and wasn’t able to get it back on track. I made a birdie on 15 but then three putted again on 17 to finish one over.

“I’m just very disappointed, especially after having played and putted so well last week. I can’t be anything but disappointed with that.”

Joy went to bed Thursday four shots outside of the top 35 and ties but is a positive mood after reaching the final stage of qualifying for the third time.

“I’m playing nicely so I’ve just got to be patient on the greens. I’ve just got to get stuck in,” he said.

The post Harradine’s Q-School heartache appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Dubai-based Swiss amateur shot a one-over par 73 in the opening round of the 72-hole finale at Suvarnabhumi Golf & Country Club for a share of 178^th place among the 222 starters.

American William Cannon (pictured above) and Australian Todd Sinnot shared the overnight lead after impressive eight under 64s. Eight players shot 65s while Australian left-hander Richard Green, whose three European Tour wins include the 1997 Dubai Desert Classic, was among eight players at -6 in a share of 11^th place.

Two-time MENA Tour winner Luke Joy battled his putter and finished with a bogey but still signed for an encouraging 70 to be T91 at -2, while fellow Englishman and reigning MENA Tour order-of-merit champion Craig Hinton carded an even par 72.

The top 35 and ties earn Asian Tour cards for 2017 but Harradine and co must first make the 36-hole cut, set at 80 players and ties. There were 90 players at -3 or better after the opening round Wednesday which means the 33-year-old Swiss needs a birdie fest Thursday to keep his pro dream alive.

Starting on the 10^th, Harradine started his fifth attempt at Asian Tour qualifying with a bogey before dropping to three over with a double on 13. The Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club member fought back with birdies on the 1^st and 6^th and will draw positives from the first stage of qualifying on a different course at the same club where he finished -22.

“I’m obviously pretty disappointed,” said Harradine. “Basically from tee to green I hit it quite well. I only hit two bad drives which weren’t that much off line but both managed to get me into a lot of trouble.

“Unfortunately the putter was very, very cold today. A complete contrast to last week. I didn’t hole one putt outside 10 feet. Nothing wanted to go in.”

Luke Joy in action during the 2015 Asian Tour School – Getty Images

Joy, who has reached the final stage of qualifying for the third time, this year via a MENA Tour exemption, was frustrated with his flat stick early and a wet bogey late but still sleep soundly on his 70.

“I played really nicely today but didn’t hole my fair share of putts. Lots of lip outs on the front nine and then very solid on the back but unfortunately found the water with my second on the par 5 last,” Joy told Golf Digest Middle East.

“That led to a six unfortunately but the game is feeling good, it just feels like a little bit of first day back at the office. The course is wet and playing rather soft.”

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The 33-year-old Swiss national team player has opened up to Golf Digest Middle East about his topsy-turvy form on the eve of the nerve-jangling final stage of the tour’s qualifying school in Thailand.

Harradine needs to finish inside the top 35 and ties at Suvarnabhumi Golf & Country Club come Saturday to earn his pro ticket at the fifth attempt.

He takes surprising form into the 72-hole finale having waltz through the first stage of qualifying last week, a -22 total seeing the Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club member advance in a share of first place in the section B qualifier at the same club.

“Up until a month and a half ago I was set to give it up [the dream of a pro career],” Harradine said.

“I have struggled with the game for the 18 months, only having a few good tournaments here and there. Up until the beginning of December I struggled to get anything going.

“So I’m trying not to build it up too much in my head but I would love an Asian Tour card. Just to get the chance to play on the Asian tour would mean a hell of a lot to me.“

So is this last chance saloon for your professional dream?

“I don’t know, at this moment in time it is difficult to say. I am not too sure what to do anymore. I will see how this week goes.”

Harradine has never made it to final qualifying before. The closest he came was when he was fourth after 36 holes of first qualifying only to succumb to a bout of food poisoning.

“I don’t want to use it as an excuse but I would rather have just played badly and not made it, rather than have had the ‘what if’ scenario.”

Harradine waltz through the first stage of qualifying with a -22 total – Getty Images

All but one round of the finale is being played on a second course at Suvarnabhumi Golf & Country Club so any advantage Harradine has from the first stage of qualifying, where he carded rounds of 66-64-69-67, is largely mitigated.

One of just two amateurs to progress – the other being Indian Arhun Prasad – Harradine admits the enormity of the occasion is ever present as he prepares to tee it up alongside 2016 MENA Tour champion Craig Hinton and countryman Luke Joy, also a regular on the developmental Middle East Pro-Am circuit.

“I am trying not to think about the situation too much,” he said.

“I am sure I will be nervous when I am out there, especially on the first few holes before I get into some sort of rhythm, but I will try and treat it as much as possible as any other round or rounds. That will be easier said than done but I will just try swinging through the shots and not hold back.

“This course is a little longer and a little wider than the course for the first stage so it will be a little more difficult for me as shorter and tighter courses tend to suit my game more. But if I can get it going off the tee I should have a chance as my irons and short game feel good at the moment.

“With golf you never know what might happen so if something does go wrong, I will try my best to deal with it and scramble as much as possible.“

Harradine, who works in the family golf course architecture business, Harradine Golf, has travelled to Thailand on his own but has struck up a pivotal relationship with a local caddy named Pi.

“She doesn’t speak any English but so far she’s been great on the greens,” he said.

“She seemed to struggle a little today during one of the practice rounds [on the new course] but I still trust her judgment. She has been caddying here for 20 years so she knows these greens way better than I do.”

The post Harradine: From amateur nightmare to pro dream in six weeks? appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

An impressive final round 67 Saturday saw the 33-year-old Dubai-based Swiss amateur finish in a three-way tie for first place in the section B qualifier at Suvarnabhumi Golf & Country Club.

Harradine must now finish amidst the top-35 players and ties in the final stage from January 11-14 to earn a coveted Asian Tour card for 2017.

Critically for the Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club member, the final tournament, another pressure-packed 72-holer beginning Wednesday, is being staged at Suvarnabhumi where he rattled off rounds of 66-64-70-67 to finish -22 and equal top from a field of 121.

Matching Harradine on 266 at Suvarnabhum (where the top 26 and ties advanced) were Janne Kaske (Finland), who closed with a six-under 64, and American Sejun Yoon.

In the other section B qualifier at Windsor Park and Golf Club, Korean Songgyu Yoo topped the 25 qualifiers with a -20 total of 268 following a closing 64.

Harradine was one of just two amateurs to advance from the section B qualifiers. The other was Indian Arhun Prasad who finished T7 at Windsor on 277.

The Asia Tour’s first event of 2017, the SMBC Singapore Open, begins January 19 at Sentosa Golf Club.

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