Dubai-born golfer Rayhan Thomas has successfully advanced to Stage Two of the PGA Tour Qualifying School in the United States. Rayhan, who hails from Dubai, secured his place in the next stage after finishing tied for 13th at Wilderness Ridge Country Club in Lincoln, Nebraska. He shot a final round of one-under-par 70, bringing his total score to nine-under-par 275 over four rounds (68, 66, 71, 70) on the par-71, 7,107-yard Championship Course. This performance allowed him to move forward by two strokes.
At 24 years old, Rayhan began his round with a birdie on the par-3 second hole, followed by a series of eight pars, making the turn at one-under-par 35. On the back nine, he remained even, with birdies on the 11th and 14th holes, but offset by bogeys on the 12th and 16th, finishing his round at level par. After his round, Rayhan expressed his satisfaction with achieving his target for the week, noting the ideal weather conditions and his consistent performance on the fairways and greens.
Over the 72 holes, Rayhan recorded 18 birdies, 45 pars, and nine bogeys, showcasing a steady and confident four days of golf. The cut mark was set at seven under par, with 25 players advancing from Stage 1. The Medalist of the 80-player field was 26-year-old Spencer Cross from the US, who finished with a 17 under par total, winning by one shot. By winning one of the First Stage qualifiers, Cross is now exempt through the Latin America Swing of the 2025 PGA Tour Americas season.
Following his successful round, Rayhan embarked on a 500-mile drive from Nebraska to Oklahoma to stay with his friend, world number eight golfer Viktor Hovland. Later this week, he plans to fly to Dubai to visit his family before heading to Thailand to compete in the $2 million Asian Tour International Series at Thai Country Club from October 24th to 27th.
The Nebraska event was one of 13 First Stage 72-hole Qualifying School events, with four played this week in Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Rayhan now advances to one of the five Second Stage qualifiers, all scheduled to be played by December 6th. The Final Stage of qualifying will be held from December 12th to 15th at TPC Sawgrass, Florida.
