Carlos secures Asian Tour card

Jobim Carlos tees off in the third round of the Asian Tour Qualifying School on Friday in Hua Hin, Thailand. He shot a 70 for 207, good for a share of 11th place. INQUIRER GOLF

Filipino amateur Jobim Carlos bounced back with aplomb after a rocky front nine, shooting an eagle-spiked one-under-par 70 to easily earn an Asian Tour card at Springfield Royal Country Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, on Saturday.

Carlos cracked par in all four days of the Q School’s final stage, using a 3 on the par-5 12th to get back on track after playing his first 11 holes by signing for three birdies, four pars and four bogeys.

He tallied 277 and emerged as the only Filipino to finish inside the top 40 after Jay Bayron, who skied to a 75 for 284, tied for 59th spot.

Only the top 40 scores and ties will gain full exemptions for the coming season with Michael Bibat also falling short despite closing out with a 67 to miss the grade by just a stroke with a 282 total.

It was also heartbreaking for Bayron, who started the day well inside the Top 20 but had double bogeys on the third and fifth holes to lose a lot of ground.

“Getting into the Asian Tour on my first try is almost unbelievable,” said the 23-year-old Carlos, who went to try his luck in Q School on his own and will turn pro right after playing for Canlubang in the PAL Interclub next month in Clark Field, Pampanga.

The Asian Tour kicks off its new season on Jan. 29 with the rich Singapore Open.

Orlan Sumcad also failed to gain a card after finishing with a 71 for a 288 tally.  Musong R. Castillo