Tomohiro Ishizaka takes surprise lead at Asian Tour Q-School final stage

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omohiro Ishizaka surged to the top of the leaderboard in the third round of the Asian Tour Final Stage Qualifying School, carding a seven-under-par 64 for a total of 12-under. The Japanese golfer now holds a one-shot lead over India’s Shaurya Bhattacharya and Mexico’s Roberto Lebrija after 54 holes of competition at Lake View Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin.

Ishizaka, who earned his spot through last week’s pre-qualifier, has played only three Asian Tour events in his career. He was bogey-free on the C&D course, hitting three birdies on the front nine and four on the back nine. “I’ve been putting well since last week’s qualifier,” he said, noting his consistency under pressure.

Bhattacharya, 22, posted a 65, while Lebrija recorded a 67, staying close to the leader. Bhattacharya chipped in consecutive holes on 15 and 16, showcasing his strength in the short game, while Lebrija, last year’s 12th-place finisher, remained composed despite challenging pin placements.

Ishizaka climbs to the top in the Asian Tour Qualifying School, highlighting precision, strategy, and composure under pressure. [Asian Tour photo]

Ishizaka’s path to the top

The tournament uses two different course layouts. Overnight leader Shubham Jaglan struggled with a 73, dropping into a tie for 10th, five shots off the lead. Only the top 70 and ties will make the 72-hole cut, with the top 35 securing full Asian Tour cards for 2026.

Ishizaka has a strong record on the Japan Golf Tour, including a second-place finish at the 2020 Dunlop Phoenix. “I didn’t hit the ball well on the last hole, but overall it was great today,” he said, highlighting his clean approach shots and solid putting.

Chasing contenders stay in the hunt

Bhattacharya and Lebrija continue to challenge, while China’s Andi Xu fired the joint best round of the week with a nine-under-par 62 on the A&B course. Canadian Henry Hyoun Ho Lee also posted strong numbers with a 70. Thailand’s Thanapol Charoensuk, who won back-to-back domestic titles in July, shot a 62 to move into a tie for 10th.

With two rounds remaining, Ishizaka’s steady play positions him as a favorite to secure his Asian Tour card, while his closest rivals prepare for a final push to claim one of the coveted top-35 spots.