Unheralded Tomohiro Ishizaka from Japan is the surprise third-round leader at the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School.

He shot a seven-under-par 64, for a tournament total of 12-under and a one-shot lead over India’s Shaurya Bhattacharya, who carded a 65, and Roberto Lebrija from Mexico, who came in with a 67.

Korean amateur Minchan Kim is another stroke behind, following a 68. Two layouts are being used this week, with all four leaders today playing the C&D course here at Lake View Resort & Golf Club, in the seaside resort town of Hua Hin, Thailand.

Overnight leader Shubham Jaglan from India, shot a 73 and is in a tie for 10^th, five behind the leader. He doubled the 18^th but is still well placed going into the final two rounds. The top-70 and ties make the 72-hole cut tomorrow with the leading 35 on Sunday securing their cards for the 2026 season on the Asian Tour.

Ishizaka qualified for this week by making it through a pre-qualifier last week. He finished fifth at Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok.

Shaurya Bhattacharya.

He has only played in three Asian Tour events during his career, but looks set the change that next year, with two steady closing rounds required.

“I have been putting well since last week’s qualifier,” said the 26-year-old, who has played mainly on the Japan Golf Tour, with a best finish of second place in the 2020 Dunlop Phoenix.

He was bogey free today, with three birdies on the front, and four on the homeward half.

“I didn’t hit the ball well on the last hole, but apart from that it was great today,” he added.

Bhattacharya is another with minimal playing time on the Asian Tour. Aged 22 though and with two wins on the Professional Golf Tour of India this year, and one last season, he is clearly one to look out for.

He said: “Pretty good round. I felt like the wind was a little down today compared to the previous two days, and I had a good run on the back nine. I chipped it in on two consecutive holes, so that was good. But all in all, I hit the ball really well and I made putts.”

He chipped on 15 and 16 for those gains, with the 15^th being for an eagle.

He admitted that his short game is usually one of his specialties.

Roberto Lebrija.

“Yeah, it is,” he explained. “I chip the ball comparatively good, it’s just about putting. I feel like my strength is hitting. I drove the ball really well today. I feel like I probably hit almost every fairway today. So that was really good. I had good approach shots onto the greens. So gave myself a lot of body opportunities.”

Any concerns Lebrija has about being back at school for second year in a row are being laid to rest. He was 12^th last year and is well placed once again this week.

“Yeah, it was not the easiest of days, the pins were in difficult spots. That front nine played kind of difficult and I played well. I was able to make a couple birdies. I hit it good, gave myself a lot of chances and then the back nine, played solid,” he said.

He finished the year 83^rd on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, just missing out on ending in the top 65, which keeps your card, at the season-ending Saudi Open presented by PIF last week. He tied for 22^nd there.

He added: “I feel like I am pretty prepared, because I’ve been playing tournaments, so that helped. But man, last year, for example, I came here, I think I played five practice rounds. This year, I did two but rushing basically. Yeah, it was pretty close timing wise just right after Saudi. But I don’t know, I think playing well in Saudi helped me to know that I can do it here. So, in the end it wasn’t too bad.”

China’s Andi Xu carded the joint best round of the week, a nine-under-par 62 on the A&B layout. He is another stroke back in fifth with Canadian Henry Hyoun Ho Lee, who fired a 70, on C&D.

Thailand’s Thanapol Charoensuk, who won back-to-back titles on Thailand’s domestic tours in July, also impressed with a 62 on the A&B course to move into a tie for 10^th.

Pictures by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.