Jaques dominates at Qualifying School
By the close of Saturday, Jaques Blaauw had tallied 270 blows over four rounds to lead 89 players through the first stage of Asian Tour Qualifying School, which was played across four Thai courses.
The 25-year-old broke 70 during all four of his rounds for a tournament score of 14-under and entrance to the final stage, where the top 40 and ties will receive Asian Tour cards.
Progressing alongside the Centurion Country Club professional were Louis Calitz, Jake Redman, Bryce Easton, Hendrik Izak Celliers and Christian Ries.
Blaauw, who played at the par-71 Majestic Creek Golf Resort, opened the tournament with a five-under-par 66 and went on to shoot rounds of 68, 69, 67 before finishing six strokes clear of his competitors.
Also qualifying from Majestic Creek were Louis Calitz and Jake Redman, both of whom played on the Sunshine Big Easy Tour, the Order of Merit of which Calitz won after taking the Tour Championship last September.
Bryce Easton, who won the Big Easy Tour’s Crown Mines tournament and tied 20th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, played at Springfield Royal Country Club and finished in a share of 14th at one-under.
At Imperial Lakeview Golf Club Christian Ries had a rough start and carded 79, but pulled through and closed the tournament in a share of 19th at six-over.
Blaauw looked solid ahead of the Final Stage next week, and a few more sub-70 rounds will comfortably secure his Tour card for the 2012 season.
Charl Coetzee also qualified for Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage. He played the Majestic Creek Golf Resort course and finished tied fifth at six-under-par.