Lin Yuxin delivered under pressure to finish number one at the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School on Sunday, December 21, securing full playing rights for the 2026 season. The Chinese golfer topped a field of 35 successful qualifiers after five demanding days at Lake View Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.

The two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur champion closed with a four-under-par 67 to end the tournament at 16-under overall. That was enough to edge India’s Shaurya Bhattacharya by one stroke in a tense finish on the C&D course.

Lin entered the par-four 18th tied for the lead and calmly made par from the penultimate group. Bhattacharya, playing in the final group, stumbled with a bogey to settle for second after a closing 72.

Lin breaks through at Final Stage

The victory marked a major milestone for the 23-year-old, who won the Asia-Pacific Amateur in 2017 and 2019 before playing collegiate golf at the University of Florida. Since turning professional in 2023, Lin has competed on the PGA Tour Americas and made select Korn Ferry Tour starts while battling putting issues.

Those struggles were nowhere to be seen this week as Lin posted rounds of 68, 67, 70, 67 and 67. His consistency across five rounds allowed him to hold off a tightly packed leaderboard in one of the toughest qualifying events in professional golf.

Canadian Henry Lee finished third at 14-under after a final-round 70, despite a costly double bogey on the closing hole. Mexico’s Roberto Lebrija placed fourth while Australia’s Will Florimo rounded out the top five.

Dramatic battle for final cards

Bhattacharya’s runner-up finish capped an impressive week for the 22-year-old, who remains third on the Professional Golf Tour of India Order of Merit with two wins this season. Despite leading early in the final round, bogeys on holes 12, 13 and 18 proved decisive.

The fight for the final cards produced late drama as 12 players tied at five-under entered a sudden-death playoff for the last eight spots. After five holes, Shubham Jaglan claimed the final qualifying position, while Kelvin Si narrowly missed out.

Among the notable players advancing were South African Justin Harding, Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat, American Berry Henson, Indonesia’s Naraajie Ramadhanputra, and India’s Rashid Khan and Ajeetesh Sandhu. Shergo Al Kurdi also made history by becoming the first Saudi Arabian golfer to advance through Final Stage, finishing tied for 19th after a clutch par on the last.