Chapchai's Order Of Merit charge halted

Chapchai Nirat missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit race when he slipped to a tied fifth finish at the Hero Honda Indian Open on Sunday.

Chapchai has been chasing down Chinese star and UBS Order of Merit leader Liang Wen-chong thanks to a steady performance this season having produced a win and five-top 10 finishes prior to his Indian encounter.

He was in prime position for a second success this year coming in as the joint third round leader at the Delhi Golf Club last week but the Bangkok-based youngster struck a 76 on Sunday for his sixth top-10 finish this season.

“I’m disappointed that I didn’t play well in the final day. I gave it my best but it wasn’t good enough,” said Chapchai, who earned US$16,137 and rose to fourth position on the UBS Order of Merit with total earnings of US$287,662.

“I didn’t have the feel on the greens over the weekend and I struggled. It would have been nice to close the gap on Liang,” said the 24-year-old Thai.

Liang, who is bidding to become the first ever Chinese player to lift the UBS Order of Merit title, continues to lead the ranking with earnings of US$469,708 while South African Anton Haig remains in second place with US$427,685. Big hitting Australian Scott Hend is ranked third and trails Liang by US$124,906.

Chinese Taipei’s Chang Tse-peng broke into the top-60 when he earned his biggest paycheck thanks to his second place finish on Sunday. Chang, who was struggling to seal his card for next year, enjoyed his best result of the season when he collected US$54,250 and spiraled up to 53rd place on the ranking.

“I have a better mental approach on the golf course and it’s helped me play well. Hopefully, this result will really push me up on the UBS Order of Merit as I want to regain my full playing rights on Tour,” said Chang, who collected US$64,077 this year.

Only the top-60 players from the UBS Order of Merit at the end of this season will earn full playing rights for the 2008 season.

After a slow year, India’s Rahil Gangjee was pleased to have cemented his position in the top-60 when he claimed lone third position on Sunday. Gangjee, with two top-10s this season, had previously enjoyed a steady run in 2006 when he was ranked 19th on the money list at the end of last year.

“It hasn’t been a great year this season. I am trying to work harder in the second half of the year and it’s kind of paying off now. I work out more regularly as well, the normal stuff which I’ve not been doing for a while now. I have been neglecting some of the things which I normally do but I think I’m back to where I should be now.

“It’s nice to have sewn up my Asian Tour card for next year. I didn’t really think about that at all,” said Gangjee, who moves up to 33rd place on the ranking.

The battle to finish inside the top-60 remains tight with Australian rookie Mitchell Brown inching his way to 59th place after his fourth place result in India.

“This definitely takes a bit of pressure off me and hopefully I’ll solidify my position in the top-60 and stay there,” said Brown, who earned US$24,650 for his efforts on Sunday.

The Asian Tour will head to Jakarta next week for the inaugural Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational to be played at the Damai Indah Golf, BSD Course.

UBS Asian Tour Order of Merit ranking (US$) - Top 20 (click here for full Order of Merit):

1 LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 469,708
2 Anton HAIG (RSA) 427,685
3 Scott HEND (AUS) 344,802
4 Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 287,662
5 Simon YATES (SCO) 282,446
6 LU Wen-teh (TPE) 236,709
7 Gaurav GHEI (IND) 235,749
8 Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 223,623
9 KIM Kyung-tae (KOR) 222,048
10 Simon DYSON (ENG) 216,260
11 Iain STEEL (MAS) 202,644
12 Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 190,989
13 Frankie MINOZA (PHI) 165,622
14 LEE Sung (KOR) 163,883
15 Scott BARR (AUS) 161,649
16 BAE Sang-moon (KOR) 160,909
17 Adam BLYTH (AUS) 148,987
18 Jason KNUTZON (USA) 137,428
19 Scott STRANGE (AUS) 125,888
20 Unho PARK (AUS) 124,512

October 16, 2007

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