Marc Hammer clinches his Asian Tour card in Hua Hin after a tense playoff. Other German players 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. Among them was German golfer Marc Hammer. After five intense days of competition, China’s Lin Yuxin topped the leaderboard and led the Q-School field. 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 secured his Asian Tour card in dominant fashion.
A milestone in Lin Yuxin’s professional journey
Yuxin’s victory marks a significant milestone in the career of the highly regarded golfer. A two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner (2017, 2019), he played college golf at the University of Florida. Since turning professional in 2023, he has competed on the PGA Tour Americas and select Korn Ferry Tour events. Putting woes, which he describes as mostly “mental,” had hindered his progress. “I played well all season but struggled with the putter, especially in the summer,” Yuxin said. “I worked hard on it in October and November, and my game has felt good again for a while now.” 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 valuable experience.”
India’s Shaurya Bhattacharya followed closely behind, posting consistent scores over the first four rounds (70–67–65–66), but stumbled on the final day with a 72 and four bogeys. He finished second at 15-under-par. Canadian Henry Lee took third place at 14-under.
Marc Hammer prevails in playoff to earn Asian Tour ticket
The battle for the final tour cards was especially dramatic, with twelve players tied at five-under-par in 28th place heading into a playoff for the last eight spots. The playoff stretched over five holes before eight players emerged with cards—including Germany’s Marc Hammer from Sandhausen, Baden-Württemberg. The 27-year-old delivered a steady performance throughout the tournament, finishing the final round with a 70 (-2), building on 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.
Other German participants in the Asian Tour Q-School failed to secure their cards. Nicolas Horder (T93), Philipp Katich (T100), Wolfgang Glawe (T118), and Julius Kreutzer (T118) all missed the cut after the fourth round.