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Prayad reaches 72nd in the world

Newly crowned Volvo Masters of Asia champion, Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand marked a sensational end to the year when he finished in 72nd place on the Official World Golf Ranking this week.

The 41-year-old Thai champion, who ended his season in 156th place last year, made a strong comeback this season, highlighted by six top-10 finishes as well as his recent season-ending triumph at the Thai Country Club.

Newly crowned Asian Tour UBS Order of Merit winner, Liang Wen-chong of China who also enjoyed a stellar season, climbed up 54 places to finish in 86th place.

The Chinese number one registered nine top-10s finishes, including his maiden triumph at the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters to earn US$532, 590 and laid his claim to become Asian Tour’s number one.

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, who won two Asian Tour titles at the TCL Classic and Hana Bank Vietnam Masters this season was ranked 139th while Taiwan’s Lu Wen-teh ended in 144th place.

Other Asian Tour players in the top-200 included Thailand’s Prom Meesawat (152nd), Filipinos Frankie Minoza (166th), Juvic Pagunsan (179th) and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang (171st).

Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju was the highest ranked Asian player in ninth place while Tiger Woods of the United States stayed firmly on top as the world’s number one.

December 18, 2007