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Lin needs win no. 6 to be Taiwan's most successful
 Lin Wen-tang is on the brink of becoming Chinese Taipei’s most successful golfer on the Asian Tour after his Mercuries Taiwan Masters success saw him equal the five career victories held by compatriots Lu Wen-teh and Lin Keng-chi.
Wen-tang has now won a tournament in every season in Asia since his maiden victory at the Taiwan Open in 2006, and there is every likelihood the 35-year-old’s career will continue to blossom.
He came from behind to triumph by three strokes from title holder Lu at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club and the winner’s cheque of US$100,000 saw him leap to 19th position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with total earnings of US$127,063.
“It was tough but I’m glad I survived. I kept believing in myself and I’m very pleased with how things have turned out,” said Lin.
After enjoying his best season in 2008 where he won twice, including the UBS Hong Kong Open, to finish second on the Order of Merit and break into the world’s top-50, Lin has spent most of the past six months away from the game to be at home with his family and recuperate from niggling injuries.
However, his growing presence didn’t take him long to re-establish himself. He finished seventh in his first tournament back at the Macau Open last month, 48th at the Panasonic Open in Japan before securing his fifth career title in front of his family.
He hopes his continued success will inspire a new breed of Chinese Taipei players to emerge. “I once told the media and my fans back home that I would like to retire when I reach 40 as I want to be with my family more often,” he said.
“Upon hearing that, they began to discourage me as there is still a wide gulf in standards between us, the established players and the younger players. I do have an influence on the junior players here and they feel that if I’m out of the golf scene in Chinese Taipei, there isn’t going to be another player whom they can look up to, ready to guide and help them develop their games.”
Lu, meanwhile, moved up 73 positions to 35th place on the Order of Merit with his second place finish. It was the 46-year-old’s best result this season.
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand continues to lead the Merit race with earnings of US$870,517 this season. Anthony Kang of the United States trails in second position on US$389,133 followed by Panasonic Open winner Daisuke Maruyama of Japan in third place.
India’s Jyoti Randhawa lies fourth with US$285,565 while Korea’s Kang Sung-hoon and Gaganjeet Bhullar of India are in fifth and sixth place respectively.
The Asian Tour will head to New Delhi for the US$1.25 million Hero Honda Indian Open which starts at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
Asian Tour Order of Merit Top-20 (click here for full list):
Pos Player Country Earnings (US$)
1. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) $870,517.71
2. Anthony KANG (USA) $389,133.88
3. Daisuke MARUYAMA (JPN) $346,079.79
4. Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) $285,565.65
5. KANG Sung-hoon (KOR) $238,285.84
6. Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) $214,775.85
7. Hiroyuki FUJITA (JPN) $207,654.24
8. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) $193,369.94
9. LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) $188,345.54
10. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) $171,681.46
11. KIM Kyung-tae (KOR) $154,036.58
12. Angelo QUE (PHI) $146,211.64
13. Adam BLYTH (AUS) $145,691.95
14. NOH Seung-yul (KOR) $142,073.24
15. BAE Sang-moon (KOR) $136,578.82
16. Ted OH (KOR) $129,260.33
17. Johan EDFORS (SWE) $128,712.17
18. Mardan MAMAT (SIN) $128,558.36
19. LIN Wen-tang (TPE) $127,063.69
20. James KAMTE (RSA) $116,237.45
October 5, 2009
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