The second day of the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School has brought the first cut. Of the more than 200 players who started the tournament yesterday, Tuesday, the top 140 and ties remain in the competition. The rest can pack their bags. In this first cut, set at +2, Carlos Pigem (+4), the only member of the Armada who had playing rights on the Asian circuit in 2024, has been left out. The other three Spaniards in the fray, Pep Anglés (-4), Eduard Rousaud (-4), and Alejandro Cañizares (-3) have overcome this initial hurdle and have positioned themselves at the top.
The Final Stage is held on two courses at the Lake View Resort in Hua Hin, Thailand. The main protagonists today from a Spanish perspective are Anglés and Cañizares, who both carded 67 strokes, each on a different course. This result has allowed them to climb up the leaderboard rapidly. Anglés, for instance, has moved into the top 35, those who will earn the card after the fifth day of competition, tied with Rousaud. Meanwhile, Cañi has gone from being just inside the cut of the top 140 to being just one stroke away from the card. A qualitative and quantitative leap.
Anglés played courses A and B and signed a card with five birdies and a solitary bogey, the same course where Rousaud played this Wednesday, scoring 69 strokes, with three birdies and one bogey. A good balance for both. Solid golf. Only one mistake on the cards. Undoubtedly, the path to finish the week among the top 35. Remember that it is exactly 35, with no ties, so a playoff is likely on Saturday after the final round.
Cañi, on the other hand, played courses C and D and achieved an excellent production of birdies. There were six successes and two bogeys. He has taken more than just a breath and has set the week’s target within reach. It should be noted that after the fourth day, a second cut will occur with the top 70 and ties. Right now, that position is at -2.
The downside of the day was for Carlos Pigem (+4). The golfer from Lleida had a very bad day on courses C and D, heavily marked by two double bogeys. He scored 77 strokes and finished out of this Final Stage.
Beyond the Spaniards, the leader is Jack Thompson (-11), winner of this same final on this same course two years ago. He has a one-stroke lead over the Koreans Kyungnam Kang (-10) and Doyeob Mun (-10). Among the players currently in the top 35 are Ashun Wu and Joel Stalter.
