Dubai's Rayhan Thomas (Ind) moved into a pivotal position at Stage Two of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School on Wednesday, reaching six under par after 36 holes, close enough to feel the opportunity ahead, yet aware of the razor-thin margins that define weeks like this.

Fully conscious that he is 'on the outside looking in,' Thomas knows he is edging toward one of the biggest steps of his career: securing a berth in the Final Stage and keeping his Korn Ferry Tour ambitions firmly alive.

Thomas added a one-under-par 71 to his opening 67 to sit in a tie for 18th after two rounds in Savannah, United States.

Brett Stegmaier (US) leads after two rounds, firing consecutive 66s for a 12-under-par total of 132, giving him a one-shot edge. The leaderboard remains tightly packed, with 32 players at five under or better.

Also in contention are left-hander Ted Potter Jr (US), a two-time PGA Tour winner with 19 career titles, and Asian Tour player Kieren Vincent of Zimbabwe.

Returning to familiar ground

Competing in Stage Two for the second consecutive year at the same venue, Thomas teed off on hole 10 in a field of 76 players. He is playing one of four Stage Two sites at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club (Deer Creek) in Savannah, Georgia.

The 26-year-old posted a mixed opening nine, with three bogeys (10, 14, 15) offset by birdies at 11, 16, and 18. He steadied himself on the second nine (holes 1–9), carding eight pars and a birdie on the fifth.

On completing his round, Thomas told Khaleej Times:“The weather was pretty cool today, with little or no wind. It was a good day for scoring - I was not just that sharp today.

“The pin positions were a little tougher than round one. I just could not hit the ball close enough. My approach and putting were not quite on point – margins are small when we all know what is on the line this week.

“I was happy how I grinded it out and got under par, which keeps me moving in the right direction,” he added.“I need to be aggressive over the next two rounds, get some more birdies on my card, and eliminate the errors and the bogeys.“

Clarity under pressure

With everything on the line, Thomas's words carried the clarity of someone who understands the demands of this stage better than most.

“I am on the outside looking in, where I have been before. I need to continue to play well, stay in the mix and keep my foot on the floor,” he said.“I am only one shot back of the mark, but I need to concentrate on my golf and on what I have influence and the rest will hopefully take care of itself,” Thomas concluded.

After four rounds, the top 15 players and ties will advance to the 72-hole Final Qualifying, scheduled for December 11–14, 2025, at TPC Sawgrass (Dye's Valley) and Sawgrass Country Club (East and West) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The current qualifying number sits at seven under par, with 17 players inside the mark.

Pre-Qualifying for the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour began in August, with 12 Stage One venues. Thomas was exempt from Pre-Qualifying as a 2025 Korn Ferry Tour cardholder.

At the Final Stage, the top five finishers will earn full PGA Tour cards, while the next 40 and ties secure full Korn Ferry Tour status for 2026.

Thomas represents Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and is sponsored by Hero, Wilson, Cadillac, and the Dubai Basketball Association.

For live scoring, visit bluegolf.

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