Dubai’s Rayhan Thomas, representing Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, delivered impressive rounds of 67, 69, 67, and 66, achieving a 15-under-par total of 269 at Wilderness Ridge Country Club in Nebraska. He secured a tie for fourth place among 75 competitors in the First Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School, the PGA Tour’s development circuit in the US.
On the 7,108-yard, par-71 course, Thomas comfortably advanced to Stage 2 of Q-School, scheduled for the first week of December.
The qualifying cut in Nebraska was set at nine under par, allowing 18 players to progress to Stage 2. The Stage One medalist, 30-year-old Travis Smyth (AUS), a regular on the Asian Tour, finished at 18 under par.
There are 14 Qualifying sites for Stage One, with approximately 225 players and ties moving forward. Stage Two will occur across five locations, culminating in the Final Qualifying at TPC Sawgrass (Dye’s Valley) and Sawgrass Country Club (East and West) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, from December 11–14, 2025.
At the final stage, the top five players receive full PGA Tour cards for the next year, while the next 40 finishers and ties earn full Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2026.
Thomas, 25, finished 88th on the 2025 Points List, granting him conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour for 2026. He aims to enhance his ranking through Q-School.
Over 72 holes, Thomas logged one eagle, 21 birdies, 42 pars, and eight bogeys. This year marks his first complete season as a professional and his debut year on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“I played consistently well all week and am pleased with my performance, achieving my sole goal of qualifying,” Thomas told Khaleej Times.
“This week, I will compete in the Philippines at the Asian Tour’s $2 million International Series at Sta. Elena Golf Club in Santa Rosa from October 23–26. Then, I’ll return to Dubai for a few weeks before heading back to the US for Stage Two in December,” he added.
“I’m thrilled with my game right now and look forward to playing on the Asian Tour, reuniting with my family and friends in Dubai, and hopefully finishing the year strong.”
For more details, visit: www.PGATour.com
