The end of the ADT season was a busy one, with potential events every week in November across Taiwan, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia, followed by the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Thailand in December.
First up was Taiwan for the Ambassador ADT Open. It was my first time traveling to Taipei, and I was excited to experience golf in Taiwan as well as the renowned Taiwanese cuisine. Unfortunately, the event coincided with the tail end of a typhoon, bringing constant winds of 50+ kph and gusts reaching 80–100 kph. My game had been feeling solid back in New Zealand, and after playing in similar windy conditions at home, I was optimistic heading into the week. I started strong, playing the first six holes at even par—a great score given the conditions. However, on my approach to the 16th green, I felt a jarring sensation in my wrist as I made contact with the ball. Initially, I thought little of it, but a few holes later, shooting pain in my wrist and arm led to poor play. By my 12th hole, the pain had worsened to the point where I couldn’t continue, forcing me to withdraw from the tournament.
After a week off in Malaysia to focus on treatment for my injury, I began to see improvement and was ready for the Toyota Tour Championship at Kota Permai G&CC. The course was in excellent condition, with a fantastic layout that tested every aspect of my game. During the practice rounds, my game felt solid, and I was optimistic about the week ahead. However, I had a slow start in the first round, going 2 over par through the first three holes. I fought back with birdies on 7 and 18, but a double bogey on 11 left me with a 2-over 74. In the second round, I started hot with three birdies in the first four holes, but my round remained inconsistent. Two additional birdies were offset by two bogeys and another double bogey, resulting in a round of 71. My 1-over total of 143 meant I missed the cut by one stroke.
Next came the most anticipated tournament of the year—the Aramco Invitational in Saudi Arabia. This event carried significant importance, as a top-three finish would secure a high enough spot on the Order of Merit to earn Asian Tour starts for 2025. I was also excited to visit Saudi Arabia, a destination few get the chance to travel to, let alone compete in. The course was well-designed, featuring wide-open holes where wind played a significant role and small, undulating greens that made approach shots challenging. My game showed flashes of brilliance but lacked consistency, with colourful scorecards that disrupted any momentum I could build. I finished with rounds of 73, 73, 77, and 76 for a total of 11 over par, placing 52nd.
The trip concluded with the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Bangkok. This was the first stage, with a top-18 finish required to advance to the final stage in Hua Hin the following week. The Phoenix Gold course in Bangkok presented a solid test of golf, with intimidating tee shots and well-protected greens. Ball control was critical to success. My first round was steady, sitting at even par with six holes to play. A strong finish, with three birdies in the next four holes, brought me to 3 under par. However, a plugged lie in the face of a bunker resulted in a double bogey, though I rebounded with a birdie on the last hole to card a 2-under 68.
The second round was less consistent, starting slowly and finishing with a 73. Needing a low score in the third round to stay in contention, I started with an eagle on the 2nd hole. While I couldn’t fully capitalise on the momentum, I closed strong with three birdies in the last five holes for a 4-under 66, putting me in a good position to finish inside the top 18. The final round began with the potential for another low score, as I hit the ball well and gave myself plenty of opportunities. Unfortunately, a cold putter meant I couldn’t build momentum, and I finished with an even-par 70. My 3-under total left me three shots outside the cut line for the final stage of Qualifying School.
