Kearney misses out on Asian Tour card by two shots in Thailand
Takumi Murakami of Japan pictured after securing his 2025 Asian Tour card at the final stage qualifying school at Lake View Resort and Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Niall Kearney went bogey free for the final 36 holes but came up two shots shy in his bid for an Asian Tour card at the final stage of the Q-School in Thailand.
The Royal Dublin man (36) followed a fourth round 66 with a four-under 67 on the A-B course at Lake View Resort in Hua Hin in round five.
But that was not enough to win one of 35 cards on offer as he finished tied for 46th on eight-under, just two shots outside the magic number.
Kearney admitted that being two-over par after the first two rounds left him a lot to do but he hopes to get some Asian Tour starts and may even play an event or two on the Asian Development Tour if he can dovetail starts with the main Asian Tour.
“It’s a bit disappointing,” said the Dubliner who won his third Irish PGA title this season. “I played very solid, just a slow start made it difficult.
“I should get a few starts and make the most of them. As for the ADT, I’ll wait and see the schedule. If they have a couple back to back I might travel. It’s getting a bit stronger and obviously a pathway to the Asian Tour."
Japan’s Takumi Murakami took top spot, closing with a 70 to win by one stroke from Korean veteran Kyungnam Kang on 20-under
“It’s absolutely the best feeling,” said 25-year-old Murakami. “I was very nervous. Unlike yesterday I couldn’t get my putter to work very well, so it was a pretty tough day. I’m very happy I managed to win now.”
The 35 graduates will get to compete in at least 22 events, starting with the Philippine Open at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club from January 23-26.
That will be followed by the International Series India presented by DLF – where American superstar Bryson DeChambeau confirmed yesterday he will tee it up.
Kang shot a 69, while his compatriot Doyeob Mun claimed third, another shot back following a 68.
Australian Jack Thompson (68) tied for fourth with China’s Bai Zhengkai (67).
In a dramatic finish to secure the 35th card, Thailand’s Charng-Tai Sudsom birdied his final two holes to card a six-under 65 to finish on 10 under and avoid what would have been an 11-man sudden-death play-off for the final place.
China’s Wu Ashun, a four-time winner in Europe, was one of the players on nine under to miss out.
He fatally bogeyed his last three holes to end a season of great disappointment as he also failed to keep his card on the DP World Tour by the narrowest of margins.
He finished 115th on the Race to Dubai, just nine points behind England’s Ross Fisher who made it through in 114th place.
Switzerland’s Robert Foley, whose father is Irish, also missed out by a shot on nine-under.
Kearney’s fourth round 66 saw him make the 72-hole cut on the mark but while he birdied the fifth, ninth, 11th and 16th in the final round, he couldn’t manage the birdie-birdie finish he needed to get his card.
Like Paul Dunne, who missed the 72-hole cut, Kearney is eligible to play events on the second-tier Asian Development Tour (ADT) next year.
