Only Liang and Chapchai left in Order of Merit race

Chapchai Nirat plans to pull the rug from Liang Wen-chong’s feet as the race for the coveted Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit crown reaches its climax.

Chapchai’s second victory of the season at the inaugural Hana Bank Vietnam Masters on Sunday meant he is now the only player who can challenge Liang, the long-time UBS Order of Merit leader, for Asia’s number one mantle.

The big-hitting Thai rose to third place with winnings of US$423,500 and trails Liang by US$102,070. Two events remain this season - this week’s US$300,000 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open and the season-finale US$750,000 Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok from December 6-9.

Chapchai had initially planned to skip the Cambodian event as he has endured a hectic run of seven tournaments over the past eight weeks. But the talented 24-year-old has been persuaded to take the trip to Siem Reap where a top prize of US$47,550 is on offer this week.

Even if Chapchai fails to win, the UBS Order of Merit title will still be decided at the Volvo Masters of Asia at Thai Country Club as a winner’s cheque of US$120,000 means the Thai can still topple China’s Liang with a win on home soil.

“I know I have a good chance of challenging Liang for the UBS Order of Merit title now. But I really want to take it one event at a time and not give myself any pressure,” said Chapchai, who has posted two other top-10s and two top-20s over his last seven starts.

The tenacious Liang has led the merit race since the Macau Open in May but was away on national duty at last week’s Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China where he partnered Zhang Lian-wei to tied 11th place, China’s best finish in the event.

The 29-year-old, winner of the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters, will skip this week’s Cambodian Open before heading to Bangkok for what he hopes will be his coronation as China’s first winner of the UBS Order of Merit.

“I’m playing in Thailand and the plan is to get the UBS Order of Merit title,” said Liang.

Second-ranked Anton Haig of South Africa is not competing in the remaining two events while Australian Scott Hend, fourth on the rankings, is too far back to catch Liang.

Sunday’s runner-up finish for Simon Griffiths of England saw him leap into 43rd place on the UBS Order of Merit, which guarantees him a place in the Volvo Masters of Asia, limited to the top-60 players, and more importantly, playing rights for 2008.

Myanmar’s Zaw Moe, who has been blighted by injuries and sickness in recent years, gave himself a lifeline by finishing fifth at the weekend and moved up from 71st to 58th place on the UBS Order of Merit.

The race to finish in the top-60 will certainly intensify in Cambodia where Korea’s Young Nam presently sits on the bubble with winnings of US$74,846.

UBS ORDER OF MERIT – TOP-20 (click here for full Order of Merit):

Pos. Player UBS Order of Merit (US$)

1. LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 525,570
2. Anton HAIG (RSA) 427,685
3. Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 423,500
4. Scott HEND (AUS) 346,026
5. Simon YATES (SCO) 295,933
6. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 277,680
7. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 268,838
8. LU Wen-teh (TPE) 265,909
9. Gaurav GHEI (IND) 256,549
10. Simon DYSON (ENG) 246,680
11. Shiv KAPUR (IND) 230,021
12. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 228,609
13. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 223,623
14. Iain STEEL (MAS) 206,093
15. Anthony KANG (USA) 199,549
16. Kane WEBBER (AUS) 182,617
17. Frankie MINOZA (PHI) 179,347
18. Chinarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 174,959
19. LEE Sung (KOR) 174,907
20. Scott BARR (AUS) 173,782

November 26, 2007

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