This year, the Australian Qualifying School was held at Moonah Links Resort, with both the Open and Legends courses hosting two sections of the first stage. The final stage was played solely on the Open Course over four rounds. The top 18 players from each first-stage section advanced, while the top 26 and ties at final stage earned Australasian Tour status for the 2025/26 season.
In the first stage, I got off to a very solid start. Beginning on the 10th tee, I turned in 2-under-par, feeling confident as I moved onto my back nine. After an up-and-down stretch, I finished the day with a 2-under 70.
Day 2 followed a similar pattern: trading birdies and bogeys throughout the round, I finished with an even-par 72, placing me around 10th heading into the final day.
Continuing the week’s theme of ups and downs, the final round started promisingly with birdies on the first two holes. However, I quickly followed with four bogeys over the next five holes. The remainder of the round was uneventful — a birdie on 9 and a bogey on 14 — closing with a 2-over 74. This left me tied for 15th with eight others, leading to a playoff for the last four spots at final stage.
Eight players teed it up in the playoff. After all making par on the first playoff hole and one player bogeying the second, the odds slightly improved: now seven players vying for four spots. On the third playoff hole, after a solid drive and a good wedge shot to a tough pin, I faced a 25-foot birdie putt — and holed it to secure my spot at final stage. I was ecstatic!
With six days of course experience under my belt, I took the opportunity to reflect and prepare for the final stage.
I came out firing in round one, sitting 3-under through six holes without missing a shot. However, golf has a way of humbling you. I made four bogeys over the next 10 holes, offset slightly by two birdies, finishing with a 1-under 71.
Round two proved much tougher. After feeling in complete control during the first round, I now felt lost with my ball striking. Forced to grind, I stayed at 1-over through 11 holes — not ideal, but still in it. Unfortunately, I closed with three bogeys over the final six holes to card a 4-over 76, knowing I’d made the remaining rounds a lot tougher.
Round three started slowly with a bogey at the second, but I stayed committed. A chip-in on 13 and birdies at 14 and 18 saw me turn in 2-under. Facing a heavy northerly wind on the front nine, I battled to a 1-over 37, finishing the day with another 1-under 71.
Heading into the final round, I knew I needed something special — probably 3 or 4-under — to secure my tour card. I reminded myself to stay patient, knowing birdie chances would come if I kept hitting good shots. Despite feeling in control early, I found myself 1-over through five holes, needing a big finish.
Finally, my patience paid off. I holed back-to-back 30-footers on 15 and 16 to get to 1-under but gave one back with a bogey on 17, making the turn at even par. I knew I needed to play my last nine holes in at least 3-under.
Executing shot after shot, I made birdies on holes 2, 3, and 4 to get to 3-under. Then, a close approach on 6 set up another birdie, followed by a drained 15-footer on 7, putting me safely inside the projected cutline.
I finished with a 5-under 67, shooting a 31 on the back nine, and secured my Australasian Tour status by three shots.
It was a hugely successful week at Q-School. I proved to myself that with the right mindset, I can execute under extreme pressure — playing for my career. I’m excited to apply my craft across Australasia, beginning in Papua New Guinea this August. For now, I’m looking forward to some time off to reflect, recharge, and put in the work needed for the season ahead.
