Golf: Asian Tour’s final qualifying stage from Wednesday

Bangkok, Jan 10 (IANS) A total of 223 golfers from 30 countries will vie for the much-sought-after Asian Tour cards when the all-important Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage starts on Wednesday.

The Suvarnabhumi Golf and Country Club will be the host venue where the final stage will be played over four rounds. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the leading 80 players and ties who will then play a further two rounds.

At the conclusion of 72 holes, the leading 35 players and ties will be ranked accordingly for the 2017 Asian Tour season, according to an Asian Tour release.

Players from 30 countries will tee up and they include nationalities from as far as Venezuela, Poland, Colombia and the United States.

Among the notable entrants are Australia's Richard Green, England's Steve Lewton, India's Chinnaswamy Muniyappa and Malaysia's Ben Leong.

Together with former Tour winners that include Australia's Rick Kulacz and David Gleeson, India's Himmat Rai as well as Thailand's Arnond Vongvanij, Udorn Duangdecha and Chawalit Plaphol, this year's Qualifying School Final Stage will present one of the toughest tests to aspiring professionals seeking their playing rights for the 2017 season.

Indian Muniyappa is hoping to make up for lost time by regaining his status on the Asian Tour.

"I have been playing well on the local Tour in India and I'm looking forward to doing the same on the Asian Tour. Winning the Indian Open in 2009 was definitely the highlight of my career," he said in an Asian Tour statement.

It was unfortunate I had a back injury which cut short my playing time and progress for about one and a half years. It's better now and I really want to get back to the winner's circle.

"I feel that all it takes is one victory again and I'll be able to come back really strong all over again."