Three Scottish golfers set for Thailand test in Asian Tour Q-School card battle

In-form Eric McIntosh is feeling quietly confident about returning home to Edinburgh for Christmas as an Asian Tour card holder as he joins Gavin Hay and Ollie Roberts in flying the Saltire in this week’s Qualifying School Final in Thailand.

The five-round card battle starts on Wednesday at Lake View Resort in Hua Hin, where the leading 140 players and ties after 36 holes qualify for a further 36 holes before a second cut will see the leading 70 players and ties progress to a final circuit that will result in the top 35 players securing tickets for the 2026 season.

Edinburgh man Eric McIntosh is heading into this week’s Asian Tour Q-School Final in Thailand in good fettle | Contributed

McIntosh and Hay both secured their spots after coming through pre-qualifiers, with the former progressing in a play-off that also involved compatriot Scott Henry at Phoenix Gold Golf in Bangkok last week.

“It was definitely a bit of a relief to get through this year,” admitted McIntosh, a former Scottish Boys’ champion. “I missed the play-off by a shot last year, and to say that flight home was unpleasant would be an understatement, so I’m glad not to be doing that again.

“It was a dicey final round, especially after back-to-back bogeys on 13 and 14. I managed to dig in and birdie the last two holes, which at the time I felt would be enough to get into a play-off.

Scott Henry missed out in Bangkok play-off

“With no live scoring, when I signed my card it looked like a four-for-two play-off, but, as scores came in, a few players dropped back to six under and it eventually became a six-for-five, which Scott was part of as well. We only needed one play-off hole - the drivable 16th over water. I knocked it greenside and two-putted for birdie, which was enough to get safely through.”

McIntosh made a strong start to his 2025 campaign on the Asian Development Tour before returning to action on that circuit at the end of the Tartan Pro Tour season. Helped by finishing fourth in the Red Sea Open and tying for 11th in the Aramco Invitational, the Bruntsfield Links man finished 29th on the ADT Order of Merit.

“I’m really looking forward to this week and feel confident in where my game is,” he added. “I’ve had a strong finish to the season on the Asian Development Tour and that should give me close to full status next season, which would be a big step forward after only getting into nine of the 14 events this year. If I can continue playing the way I have been, I think I’ll give myself a great chance come Sunday afternoon to obtain an Asian Tour card.”

Gavin Hay has his dad Gordon on the bag for the five-round card battle at Lake View Resort in Hua Hin | Contributed

Hay set up his card chance by coming through one of the early pre-qualifiers at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Morocco in October. “I was pleased with my performance as Royal Golf Dar Es Salem is a great test of golf and my game was really solid the whole week,” said Hay, who hails from Grantown-on-Spey but now lives in the Glasgow area, where he is the PGA head teaching and playing professional at East Renfrewshire Golf Club.

“I had a good season on the PGA Tartan Tour, so I feel Morocco came at a good time as it was right at the end of the Scottish playing season and, therefore, my game was still sharp. It’s been tricky getting ready for the final stage as since returning from Morocco the weather has been absolutely awful so I’ve been getting games in down the coast whenever possible.

“I came out to Thailand a little early to get acclimatised and get some games in. The hardest part is getting used to the grainy grass when pitching and putting as it’s not what we play on all year. I am really looking forward to this week and, as always, I’m forever grateful to my sponsors Clyde Scaffolding for supporting me and giving me the chance to compete.

Proud Scot Ollie Roberts also among the card contenders

“My dad Gordon caddied for me in Morocco so he is out here on the bag this week. If I can play the same way as I did in Morocco, then I’m confident I can give myself a good chance.”

Roberts, who was born in London and grew up in Hong Kong but is a proud Scot, got straight into the final through having a category on the Asian Tour this year. He’ll be hoping to produce the form that earned him a win at Carnoustie on the Tartan Pro Tour in 2022.

Others in the 201-strong field include Irishman Alex Maguire, who won the St Andrews Links Trophy in 2023, Welshman David Boote and South African Justin Harding, a two-time DP World Tour winner.