Asian Tour Q-School: Ajeetesh Sandhu lone Indian past 72-hole cut

The 36-year-old Asian Tour winner showed every ounce of his determination at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, carding a steady fourth-round 71 to sit tied-8th at 12-under par. Sandhu, with earlier rounds of 63, 70, and 68, is now the last Indian standing as the grueling week enters its final day.

The journey hasn’t been easy for Sandhu. A second cut after 72 holes reduced the field to 73 players, leaving behind eight of his Indian compatriots who had made the halfway cut but couldn’t progress further. Now, Sandhu carries the hopes of Indian golf on his shoulders as he vies for a spot among the top-35 and ties—a ticket to full playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2025.

For Sandhu, getting back to this point has been anything but straightforward. Years of battling back injuries and inconsistent form took their toll, culminating in a frustrating 82nd-place finish on the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit—well outside the safety of the top-65 cutoff for retaining playing status. But if there’s one thing Sandhu has in abundance, it’s perseverance.

Last week, that perseverance paid off when he claimed his fifth domestic title at the Vishwa Samudra Open on the PGTI.

Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for two other Indians who came agonizingly close to making the second cut. Karandeep Kochhar, a fellow Chandigarh golfer, started the week strong with a brilliant opening 67 but couldn’t maintain the momentum, finishing at 3-under—just one shot shy of advancing. Arjun Sharma was in a similar position, needing a final-round 67 but settling for a 68, also falling one stroke short.

Other Indian pros who missed the cut included –
Chikkarangappa S. (-2), Pukhraj Singh Gill (-2), Rashid Khan (-2), Aryan Roopa Anand (-1), Anshul Kabhtiyal (+7), Honey Baisoya (RTD).

Photo – Asian Tour