Richard Green with his Asian Tour badge after winning the Qualifying School Final Stage. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Bangkok, Thailand: Richard Green topped the class when he defeated fellow-Australian Todd Sinnott with a birdie at the first play-off hole to secure his playing rights at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand.

Green earned his Tour card at the end of a gruelling week which saw him compete with distinction at the Suvarnabhumi Golf and Country Club.

The 45-year-old marked his card with a nine-under-par 63 to sign off with four-day total of 28-under 260 – the third lowest score in the Asian Tour history for a 72-hole event.

It was a sweet success for Green, who suffered the agony of losing his European Tour card last season by about US$20,000.

Despite losing out in the play-off to his role model, Sinnott was delighted to post a final round 62. His closing 260 total was the lowest score he has posted in his career.

Zheng Ouyang was among the top-35 players and ties who earned Asian Tour playing rights in 2017. The Chinese carded rounds of 65, 66, 70 and 67 to make the grade after a failed attempt last year.

Sujjan Singh was India’s top performer, finishing in a share of 13^th place after final round 66. It was a welcome return to the Asian Tour for Singh after he lost his card in 2013.

Four graduates – Ben Leong, Steve Lewton, Marcus Both and Arnond Vongvanij – are winners on the Asian Tour, with Both winning three times and the others winning once each.

Last year’s Qualifying School winner, Chang Yik-eun of Korea successfully regained his card by finishing tied-eighth with a final round of 69.