Marc Hammer secures his Asian Tour card at Q-School in Hua Hin after a tense playoff. Other Germans miss the cut after round four.
At the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School (Q-School) held across four courses at the Lake View Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, 35 players earned their Asian Tour cards — including German golfer Marc Hammer. After five intense days of competition, China’s Lin Yuxin topped the leaderboard and led the Q-School qualification list. The left-hander impressed again on the final day with a 67 (-4), continuing his strong form from earlier rounds (68–67–70–67). Finishing at 16-under-par, the 25-year-old claimed first place and secured his Asian Tour card in dominant fashion.
A milestone in Lin Yuxin’s professional career
Yuxin’s victory marks a significant milestone in the career of the highly regarded golfer. He won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2017 and 2019 and played college golf at the University of Florida. Since turning professional in 2023, he has competed on the PGA Tour Americas and selected Korn Ferry Tour events. Struggles on the greens, which he described as mostly “mental,” had held him back. “I played well all season, but especially during the summer I had issues with the putter,” Yuxin said. “I worked hard on that in October and November, and my game has felt solid again recently.” He added, “It’s been tough, with many ups and downs. Honestly, I just had to stay patient. I’ve learned a lot since turning pro — it’s been a very valuable experience.”
Yuxin was closely followed by India’s Shaurya Bhattacharya, who posted consistent rounds of 70–67–65–66 before stumbling on the final day with a 72 and four bogeys. He finished second at 15-under-par, just one shot behind Yuxin. Canada’s Henry Lee took third place at 14-under-par.
Marc Hammer clinches Asian Tour ticket in dramatic playoff
The battle for the final tour cards was especially dramatic in the middle of the leaderboard, where 12 players tied at five-under-par in 28th place had to compete in a playoff for the remaining eight spots. The playoff stretched over five holes, ultimately awarding cards to eight players — including Germany’s Marc Hammer from Sandhausen, Baden-Württemberg. The 27-year-old delivered a steady performance throughout the tournament, closing with a 70 (-2) on the final day to complement his earlier rounds of 71–67–72–70. His efforts were rewarded with the coveted Asian Tour card. Hammer has prior experience on the DP World Tour, where he recorded three top-10 finishes last season, proving his competitiveness.
Other German participants at the Asian Tour Q-School were less fortunate. Nicolas Horder (T93), Philipp Katich (T100