The Winners of DP World Tour Q-School

A proper test of golf finished up Wednesday in Spain at the grueling six-round DP World Tour Q-School. A total of 20 cards were handed out, and two Americans made it through. Below is a recap of some of the players who earned their way onto the DP World Tour.

Total Domination
Zander Lombard may have just delivered the best Q-School performance in history. The South African, who has struggled the last two seasons, shot an astonishing 37-under par to win by 13 strokes. The 30-year-old peaked at 96th in the OWGR early in 2024 but slid to 560th after a difficult season in which he made just 10 of 23 cuts and finished 160th in the Order of Merit.

There were hints this was coming—he finished third on the Sunshine Tour last month and posted two solid results late in the DP season. Still, the numbers are staggering: 37-under and a 13-shot margin are both all-time DP World Tour Q-School records. And he did it despite making 10 bogeys over 108 holes. Incredible stuff.

Clutch as It Gets
With four holes to play, Eddie Pepperell was three strokes outside the number needed to earn a card. All he did was birdie all four holes to finish T12. The two-time DP World Tour winner and veteran of nearly 300 starts has long been one of the tour’s most thoughtful interviews.

Pepperell has been candid about his mental-health struggles, often discussing them on his podcast. It feels like he’s been around forever, but at just 34, there’s every chance his best golf is still ahead of him. Awesome to see him finish strong.

’Merica
Davis Bryant and Hunter Logan, both Americans, earned DP World Tour cards.

This is the second year in a row for Bryant, a Denver native and mini-tour legend. Last season he split time between the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanners Tour (HPT), making 11 of 18 cuts on DP and finishing 126th in the OOM—just 11 spots short of keeping his card. He also made 13 of 22 cuts on the HPT, finishing 35th in points. (That’s 40 events in one season! Wild.)

Logan, a Mississippi State grad who turned pro last year, made it through all three stages of Q-School. The 24-year-old birdied the 108th hole to shoot a final-round 67 and earn his card on the number. Clutch.

Maple Leaf

Longtime grinder Aaron Cockerill earned his DP card back after finishing just outside the top 115 in points needed to retain full status for next season. A final-round 65 vaulted him into third place. The Manitoba native will return to the DP Tour for the sixth straight season.

Yuletide Greetings
Jack Yule, a 31-year-old mini-tour grinder, made it through all three stages of Q-School for the first time to earn a DP card. Yule has spent the past two seasons on the UK-based Clutch Pro Tour and has never before had status on the DP or HPT. A final-round 65, capped by a birdie on the last hole, vaulted him up the leaderboard when it mattered most.

From Alternate to a Card
At Second Stage, Fred Biondi, the former NCAA champion from the University of Florida, lost in a playoff for the final spot in the final stage. Soon after, he got news that some HPT players—including American Nick Carlson—were skipping the final stage, bumping Biondi into the field as an alternate.

Though his short pro career has been a struggle, signs pointed to progress in recent months, and this week may have marked a turning point. It would be no surprise to see the talented 24-year-old contend next season.

Highest-Ranked Player to Get Through
Thailand’s Sadam Kaewkanjana (No. 248 in OWGR) was the highest-ranked player to advance. In 2021, he put together one of the most under-appreciated seasons in golf, playing nine events across the Thailand, Asian, and Asian Development Tours. His worst finish? Eighth. He recorded three runner-ups and three wins that year. Now, he’ll hold DP World Tour status for the first time.

Random Stuff

• Number of countries represented among the 20 cards: 16
  
  
• Americans with full HotelPlanners Tour status in 2026:
  
  
  
  • Matt Gilchrest
    
    
  • Austin Duncan
    
    
  • Charles Huntzinger
    
    
  • Canon Claycomb
    
    
  • Alex Goff
    
    
  • Collin Adams
    
    

(Header photo from Getty Images)