FINAL 20 PLAYERS SET FOR 36-HOLE FINISH AT LIV GOLF PROMOTIONS

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – The 20-player field is set for Sunday’s 36-hole finale at LIV Golf Promotions, with the top three finishers earning coveted spots in the 2024 LIV Golf League.

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai set the pace in Saturday’s second round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, producing an 8-under 64, two shots better than his closest pursuers.

“It’s going to be awesome if I qualify for 2024 LIV Golf,” said Prateeptienchai, who entered this week fresh off an Asian Tour win at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open.

The final four spots for Sunday’s field were determined by a five-man playoff among those finishing at 3 under. Laurie Canter (birdie), Kevin Chappell (par) and Kevin Yuan (par) advanced after the first playoff hole, while Joel Stalter birdied the second playoff hole to eliminate Ben Campbell.

“It's very intense because you're playing elimination and then you start over again,” said Stalter, who bounced back after a short missed par putt on the first playoff hole. “Really getting into the final tomorrow was the big thing.”

“I’ve been on the cut line all year,” said Chappell, the veteran American touring pro. “Unfortunately, I’m pretty comfortable there.”

Canter is looking to return to LIV Golf after playing full-time in 2022 and making 11 starts as a reserve in 2023. He birdied the 18th hole in regulation to make the playoff before wrapping up his spot with a nice chip from the rough to set up his birdie.

“It would mean everything to get myself back on,” the Englishman said.

Three relegated players from the 2023 LIV Golf League competed Saturday. Jediah Morgan, who played for the all-Australian Ripper GC, was the only one to advance after shooting 66.

“Obviously, I want to be back there,” said Morgan, one of 13 players in Saturday’s field who received first-round byes, with nine of those players advancing. “That's where I want to play my golf.”

Among the 20 players to advance is China’s 22-year-old amateur Sampson-Yunhe Zheng, who shot a bogey-free 67 and finished with an eagle on the 18th hole.

Asked what it would mean to earn one of the three LIV Golf spots, Zheng replied: “It would mean a lot. It would be very special. I want to stay in the present, just one shot at a time, and see what happens tomorrow.”

Scores are reset after Saturday, so the 20-man field starts from scratch when play begins Sunday with a shotgun start at 7:15 a.m. local time (10:15 p.m. ET Saturday). The fourth round will start in threesomes from two tees at approximately noon local time

In addition to the top three earning LIV Golf spots, players who finish fourth through 10th (plus ties) earn exemptions into the 2024 International Series sanctioned by the Asian Tour. It promises to be an exciting and pressure-packed 36 holes.

“It's the chance of a lifetime tomorrow, especially in my position,” said France’s Stalter. “Even the top 10 gets International Series. That would really change my year next year. I'm just glad I've been working hard, and I see my game starting to pay off.

“Tomorrow I'm just going to go and give it everything I've got. No regrets.”

QUICK LOOK AT 20 PLAYERS COMPETING SUNDAY

Suteepat Prateeptienchai, Thailand (-8) – Won in his most recent start on the Asian Tour at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open

Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Thailand (-6) – Won once and finished runner-up four times in 25 starts in 2022

Steve Lewton, England (-6) – Finished 22nd on the International Series standings in 2023

Jediah Morgan, Australia (-6) – Finished 46th in the LIV Golf League Individual standings in 2023

Braden Thornberry, USA (-6) – Won the 2017 NCAA Division I men’s golf championship while at University of Mississippi

Zach Bauchou USA (-5) – Has two top-5s in his last eight Korn Ferry Tour starts

Jinichiro Kozuma, Japan (-5) – Made three starts in the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series, finishing 29th in points

Kieran Vincent, Zimbabwe (-5) – Won the 2023 International Series Vietnam on the Asian Tour and brother of current LIV Golf member Scott Vincent

Suradit Yongcharoenchai, Thailand (-5) – Finished 28th in the 2023 International Series standings

Sampson-Yuehn Zheng, China (-5) – 27th-ranked amateur in world and plays collegiately at University of California

Jaco Ahlers, South Africa (-4) – Won the Asian Tour’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters in October

Gaganjeet Bhullar, India (-4) – Won the BN Indonesian Masters to move into 8th place in final International Series standings

Gunn Charoenkul, Thailand (-4) – Finished seventh in International Series standings and runner-up at International Series Qatar

Poom Saksansin, Thailand (-4) – Won the Asian Tour’s Yeangder TPC in September

Kalle Samooja, Finland (-4) – Won Porsche European Open in 2022 for his first DP World Tour victory

Martin Trainer, France (-4) – Won in Puerto Rico on the PGA Tour in 2019

Laurie Canter, England (-3) – LIV Golf reserve player who made 11 starts in 2023

Kevin Chappell, USA (-3) – Veteran PGA Tour player who won the 2017 Valero Texas Open

Joel Stalter, France (-3) – Posted his lone DP World Tour win in 2020 in Austria

Kevin Yuan, USA (-3) – Played the inaugural event last season at LIV Golf Invitational London

BREAKDOWN OF SUNDAY’S FIELD

Countries represented – 11. Thailand (5), USA (3), Australia (2), England (2), France (2), China (1), Finland (1), India (1), Japan (1), South Africa (1), Zimbabwe (1)

Full-time Asian Tour members – 11

Players with Round 1 byes – 9

Golfers with LIV Golf experience – 5 (Laurie Canter, Jinichiro Kozuma, Jed Morgan, Kieran Vincent, Kevin Yuan)

Amateur – 1 (Sampson-Yuhne Zheng)

Age range of players – 9 players in their 20s, 9 players in their 30s, 2 players in their 40s