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Shaaban keeps card as rivals fall away

Malaysia’s Shaaban Hussin amazingly maintained his 65th position on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit by a mere US$308 to earn full playing rights for 2010 after the conclusion of the King’s Cup on Sunday.

Shaaban had missed the halfway cut on Friday by a single shot at Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club and was resigned to the fact that his rivals would surpass him in the Merit race.

But India’s Gaurav Ghei and Mitchell Brown of Australia finished a lowly 44th and 48th respectively and failed to dislodge the Malaysian. Shaaban’s hopes were hanging by the thread as Nick Redfern of England, who lost in a play-off for the title to Chan Yih-shin of Chinese Taipei, could have also pushed Shaaban out of the top-65 if he had won the US$300,000 tournament, the final event of the season.

“Oh my gosh, I want to cry,” said a relieved Shaaban when contacted in Kuala Lumpur.

“After I got home on Saturday, I just chucked my bags at home and didn’t do anything. I was so sure that the players behind me would overtake me on the Order of Merit as there were only a few thousand dollars behind me. I’m so relieved.”

Ghei, a three-time Asian Tour winner, shot a disappointing closing round of 75 to miss out on a top-65 finish.

“I just didn’t play well the last two days. That’s the way it is I guess. I just didn’t make any putts. I made three bogeys and didn’t make any putts. It’s disappointing,” said the Indian veteran, who will rely on his career earnings status for playing rights in 2010.

Brown closed with a 74 to finish 67th on the Merit list. “I got off to a terrible start. I wasn’t playing very well and wasn’t doing anything. I had a couple of three putts and was just down and out really. The back nine, I played pretty much the best that I have all year, but it’s a bummer anyway.

“It’s a bit too late. I didn’t play well enough all year. The damage was done at the start of the year. I’m going to go home and do nothing for a while. We’ll see if I’ll come back to Qualifying School. Golf is pretty frustrating at the moment.”

December 6, 2009