Former Golf Australia National Squad members Ryan McCarthy, Matt Steiger, Matt Jager and Jake Higginbottom were among eight Australians to qualify to compete on the Asian Tour in 2013. Both Stieger and Higginbottom have won the PGA Tour Australasia 2012-13 season with Stieger winning the NSW PGA Championship and Higginbottom winning the BMW NZ Open while still an amateur. Fellow former National Squad member Tim Stewart was the best Australian at Asian Tour Q-School, firing rounds of 69, 70, 66 and 69 to finish outright third on 11-under the card. I think there are a lot of things that I can take from this week – I ve to be patient with my game, stick to my game more often and plan what I want to do for the year, said Stewart. Stewart competed on the Asian Tour in 2012 but failed to retain his card, buoyed with confidence after his performance last week he looks forward to his second chance. I really enjoyed playing on the Asian Tour after playing the full season last year but I also have to do some work, like figuring out what I ve done wrong through the year, added Stewart. I am always looking forward to my first win – I will just work harder this year and whatever my results might be, will be. Also regaining their card on the Asian Tour is Adam Groom, while David Lutterus will tee it up in Asia after finding himself with limited status in America. They will be joined by PGA Tour of Australasia regular Thomas Petersson of Sweden and Sam Brazel. More than 100 hopefuls teed it up in the final stage of Asian Tour qualifying school with the top-40 earning playing privileges for 2013. Heading to Melbourne from Thailand Groom, McCarthy, Jager, Stieger and Higginbottom will now tee it up at International Final Qualifying Australasia in the hope of qualifying for The Open Championship.
Author: Golf Australia