Darcy Brereton passed through the Asian Tour’s First Stage Qualifying tournament in Australia with flying colours today after recording a one-stroke victory at Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club, in Melbourne.

The Australian fired a final round one-under-par 71 to finish with a four-round aggregate of five-under-par 283 in testing conditions over all four days – in what was the first of seven First Stage qualifiers.

His countryman Brett Rankin, who had a one-shot lead over Brereton at the start of the day, and New Zealand’s Tyler Wood tied for second after shooting rounds of 73 and 68 respectively.

The top six players secured passage into the Final Stage – which will be played at Lakeview Resort & Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand, from December 17-21.

The other players to make it through are Australia’s Zachary Maxwell, James Marchesani and Andre Lautee.

Lautee was the only player not to have started the last day in the top six, but he booked his ticket to Thailand with a closing 68.

Brereton, 29 years-old and from Melbourne, prevailed after a close finish.

Following back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15 he made an eagle on the par-five 16^th and parred the last two holes, while Wood made a double on 17 and Ranking dropped a shot on the last.

The next two First Stage events will be held in the United States: first at Tesoro Club in Florida from September 29-October 1, and then at Soboba Springs, in California, from November 5-8.

Pattana Sports Club in Chonburi is then the next stop, from December 3-6, before Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok, Grand Prix Golf Club in Kanchanaburi, and Springfield Royal Country Club, stage events simultaneously from December 10-13.

Each First Stage event is played over four rounds, with the top-placed finishers earning places in the Final Stage – played over five rounds, with the top-35 earning their cards for the ensuing season on the Asian Tour.