It’s make or break week for many aspiring — or rejuvenated — professional golfers.
The final stage of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia qualifying school, presented by Cobra Puma Golf, is on at Sandhurst in south-eastern Melbourne with 76 players chasing a 2017 card.
Starting tomorrow, the final stage will be played over four rounds with no cut.
The Q-school winner will receive category 7(a) for the season which sits just below winners of state-based championships and above the career money category. It is anticipated that this player will get into all 2017 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments.
Players who finish 2-5 will receive category 10 and it is anticipated that these players will be exempt into most 2017 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournament.
Players who finish 6-40 will received category 13; it is anticipated that these players will be exempt into most state-based championships.
Six countries are represented this week as the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia emerges as an attractive player pathway.
There are some notable names among Q-school entrants including former tour winners Rohan Blizard, Lincoln Tighe, Scott Arnold, Matthew Guyatt, Bradley Lamb, Jin Jeong, David McKenzie, Leigh McKechnie, Ryan Lynch, Anthony Summers, Peter Wilson and Adam Stephens.
Also in the field are some of the rising stars of Australasian golf including; Blake Proverbs (am), Austin Bautista (am), Troy Moses, Anthony Quayle, and New Zealander Luke Toomey (am).
The 2017 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season tees off with the Victorian PGA Championship on 2 February at Huntingdale Golf Club.
This year the schedule will include a minimum of 17 tournaments played for approximately $9million dollars.
The player who tops the Order of Merit at the end of the season will likely gain entry into The Open Championship in 2018 as well as World Golf Championship events.