The stage has been set for tomorrow’s crucial and high-stakes final round of the Asian Tour Qualifying School – with India’s Shaurya Bhattacharya head of the class at the moment.

He carded a five-under-par 66 on the A&B course at Lake View Resort & Golf Club today to move to 16-under for a one-shot lead, in the ideal position to take one of the 35 cards on the line for next year’s season.

Japan’s Tomohiro Ishizaka, the overnight leader, is in second also following a 66, with Roberto Lebrija from Mexico one shot back in third. He carded a 68. Both were also on A&B.

Bhattacharya made six birdies and dropped the one shot in a confident round. He is looking to secure his Asian Tour card for the first time, having only played in a handful of events over the past few seasons.

He plays on the Professional Golf Tour of India where, where he has won three times, including two this season.

With a strong amateur record, that saw him ranked number two in India in 2023 and represent his country at the Eisenhower Trophy 2023 and the Nomura Cup in 2022, India looks like they have another star in the making.

Tomohiro Ishizaka.

“It was good,” said the 22-year-old from Delhi.

“I mean, just keep doing what I’m doing, I’m striking the ball well, I’m playing the wind good, and yeah, I mean, just stick to the process. That’s it.

“I’ve been playing for, I think, eight weeks now in a row, so I’m just focusing on keeping the body recovered, that’s about it. Eat good food and do some stretching.”

Little is known of Ishizaka, who plays on the Japan Golf Tour, but he continues to impress. He started the day with a one-shot lead.

He also revealed today that he is a good friend of Kazuki Higa, who claimed the Asian Tour Order of Merit title last week, and it was he who recommended he come and play on the Asian Tour.

“I already have my Japanese tour card, but getting the Asian Tour card, it would be a challenge for me, as a Japanese, and improve my game too,” said Ishizaka, who finished 39^th on this year’s Japan Golf Tour Money list.

“I wanted to come out last year, but it was delayed because I wanted to secure my Japanese tour card first. So, this year, hopefully I can get that card.

“The course played different today, and even though I made quite a few putts, I still had more birdie chances but didn’t make them. My game was more consistent today, but there’s one more day so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Lebrija would have had tied for lead but for a calamitous double bogey on the par-three 12^th.

“Yeah, today was more of a slow round. I started off good, made a birdie on 11, but then on 12, I had disaster as you can see from my pants. I had to play it from the water and made double,” he said.

Roberto Lebrija.

“So, a little slow, able to make a birdie there on 14. Didn’t take advantage of the par five, but finished even my first nine, which is fine. Then I started really good on the front, I went birdie one, birdie two, almost birdie three, birdie four. And then I hit to two feet for eagle on five, but I missed it. It took me like 10 minutes to hit my putt, and I think I lost concentration and I missed the putt but ended up making birdie. I had an unfortunate bogey on number eight, but pretty decent round.

“Yeah, tomorrow is gonna be a round where I know that if I just play decent, I have my card secured. But at the same time, I’m trying to win the tournament, you know. So gonna try to keep to my game plan. I’ve played that course well, the CD, so I know what to do there. I know that course can play a little tougher sometimes, but if I just keep to my strategy I know I’ll do good.”

Canadian Henry Lee (67) holds fourth, three off top spot with China’s Lin Yuxin (67) fifth, a shot further back.

The 72-hole cut was made today, at two under.

71 players have made it through to tomorrow, which will be played on the C&D course.

Pictures by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.