The road to the 2026 Asian Tour via the Qualifying School has been laid with the Tour releasing the dates and venues today.

Six First Stage events will be staged between October and December – including a first visit to Morocco. The Final Stage, arguably the ultimate pressure test of tournament golf, will return to Lake View Resort & GC, Hua Hin, Thailand, from 17-21 December.

Through the valued support of the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and Association Trophée Hassan, Royal Dar Es Salam, recent host of the International Series Morocco, will stage the opening First Stage event (Section A) from 21-24 October. Its Red Course was used for The International Series event in July, won by Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, while the Blue Course will provide the examination in October. It will mark the first time the Asian Tour has visited Africa for the Qualifying School and reflects the region’s huge interest in playing in Asia.

Section B will cater for a similar appetite in the United States, by returning to Soboba Springs GC in California, from 4 – 7 November.

Thailand will then welcome the ensuing four First Stage tournaments. Section C will be hosted by Grand Prix GC, in Kanchanaburi, from 2 – 5 December, with Pattana Sports Club in Chonburi staging Section D over the same dates.

Section E will head to Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok, from 9 –12 December, played simultaneously with Section F which will also be played at Grand Prix GC.

All First Stage events will be played over 72 holes with the leading 18% of the field advancing to the Final Stage.

Julien Sale claimed the Smart Infinity Philippine Open a month after graduating from Qualifying School. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.

The Final Stage will be contested over five rounds with a maximum field of 240 players. The leading 140 players and ties after 36 holes will qualify for rounds three and four, with a further cut after 72 holes to the leading 70 players and ties, who will then play the final round. At the conclusion of the final round the top 35 players will secure Asian Tour membership for the 2026 season.

Entries for the Qualifying School open on Friday, 25 July.

Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “The Asian Tour Qualifying School is not just five rounds in December but a three-month push to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour.

“It’s an exciting and integral part of the success of the Asian Tour. We are delighted Royal Dar Es Salam will raise the curtain this year and help expand the School’s footprint to Africa, where the game is flourishing. Over 650 competitors entered the Qualifying School last year, and it’s a number that continues to grow.

“There is simply nothing like the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the School, particularly at the business end of the cut-throat final stage.”

Japan’s Takumi Murakami finished head of the class in 2025 [main picture], finishing one in front of Korean Kyungnam Kang. Kang’s compatriot Doyeob Mun, who recorded a brilliant victory in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open this year, claimed third.

In a dramatic finish to secure the 35^th card, Thailand’s Charng-Tai Sudsom birdied his final two holes to fire a brave 65 to finish on 10 under and avoid an 11-man sudden-death play-off for the final place.

The opportunities from the Qualifying School were highlighted at the opening event of the 2025 Asian Tour season, with Julien Sale from France winning the Smart Infinity Philippine Open in his first start on the Tour one month after graduating from Lake View Resort & GC.

Please find full details of the Qualifying School here.