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Webber up to 33rd in UBS Order of Merit

Australian Kane Webber has proven that Qualifying School can offer a career launch pad following his maiden Asian Tour triumph at the Macau Open on Sunday.

The 25-year-old rookie earned one of the last few available cards from the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Malaysia in January and in only his second appearance in the region, Webber pulled off a winning performance.

He took home a cheque of US$47,550 and moved up to 33rd place on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit with his season's haul of US$60,460. Compatriot Scott Barr, who finished second in the Macau Open for a second time in four years, leapfrogged from 53rd to 36th place on the UBS Order of Merit with US$55,527.

There was no change in the top-10 of the UBS Order of Merit with Jeev Milkha Singh of India, who did not play in Macau, leading the rankings with US$442,822. Korea's Charlie Wi lie in second place on US$329,789, followed by Australian Andrew Buckle in third position on US$280,212.

Webber is the second Qualifying School graduate this season to make a winning breakthrough, following in the footsteps of England's Chris Rodgers, who triumphed in the Pakistan Open the week after he won medallist honours in Malaysia.

The Australian first made an impression a fortnight ago at the inaugural Aamby Valley Asian Masters in India, finishing tied fifth despite fading with a last round 75. But in Macau, the slender Webber shone through in driving rain during the last day and prevailed by three strokes.

“You have to come in and expect to win. I came here thinking that I could win after how I played at Aamby Valley and kept it going, so it’s good, I'm very happy,” said Webber.

After an amateur career where he graduated with a communications degree from the University of Colorado, Webber played on the mini circuits in the United States before trying his luck in the Q-school in Asia.

He had to grind out a final round 71 to secure a top-40 place at tied 33rd position, which earned him playing status on the Asian Tour. But with a low ranking, Webber failed to get into the bigger events in the early part of the year but when the opportunity came in India and Macau, he took it with both hands.

May 22, 2006

UBS ORDER OF MERIT – TOP-20

Pos. Player Winnings (USD)

1. Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 442,822

2. Charlie WI (KOR) 329,789

3. Andrew BUCKLE (AUS) 280,212

4. Simon DYSON (ENG) 269,265

5. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 217,222

6. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 208,821

7. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 177,77

8. Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 174,382

9. Tadahiro TAKAYAMA (JPN) 173,460

10. WANG Ter-chang (TPE) 145,658

11. Jarrod LYLE (AUS) 136,270

12. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 131,299

13. Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 130,688

14. Shiv KAPUR (IND) 130,407

15. SUK Jong-ryul (KOR) 125,000

16. Scott STRANGE (AUS) 117,324

17. Amandeep JOHL (IND) 104,557

18. Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 103,570

19. Bryan SALTUS (USA) 96,649

20. LEE Sung (KOR) 91,983