Phelan eyes PGA Tour Latinoamérica; four Irish for Asian Tour Q-School

Kevin Phelan

The Wild Geese are at it again and seeking their fortune on the world's golf tours.

Waterford's Kevin Phelan will be aiming to put a disappointing 2017 behind him when he tees it up in the PGA Tour Latinoamérica Qualifying School in January.

The former Walker Cup player (27) made just five cuts from 16 Challenge Tour starts this year and finished 155th in the Road to Oman standings.

Ranked 97th in 2016, he needs a new lease of life and will be hoping to find it when he tees it up at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Florida from January 9-12 — one of the four 72-hole qualifying tournaments where membership will be awarded to the top 35 and ties at each site. 

Four Irish players will also tee it up at one of four venues in the First Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Thailand from January 3-6.

Former Irish PGA winners Niall Kearney and Tim Rice will attempt to qualify over 72 holes for the Final Stage at Rayong Green Valley Country Club in Bangkok with Rory McNamara in action at Windsor Park & Golf Club and Black Bush assistant Stephen McCarthy at St. Andrews 2000.

McCarthy, who is now fully qualified, hopes to dedicate himself to competitive golf for the foreseeable future and also has plans to tee it up at the PGA Europro Tour Q-School in March.

The Asian Tour’s 90-hole Final Stage will be played at Rayong Green Valley Country Club and St. Andrews 2000 from January 10-14, where a maximum field of 264 will play one round at each venue.

After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the leading 140 players and ties who will then play a further two rounds. 

After 72 holes, the field will be cut to the leading 70 players and ties who will then play the final round. 

At the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 and ties will be ranked accordingly for the 2018 season.