Syndicated Thumbnail Navigation player featuring a selection of clips taken from Golf Bug TV. For use on the Golf Today website. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1175881076http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=495713462 RELATED STORIES 2008 Asian Tour schedule and results Asian Tour Order of Merit after the Pine Valley Beijing Open Pine Valley Beijing Open home page Brown could be first one season $1m man ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Open: Choi takes lead with two closing birdies Open: Liang makes first major cut with fighting 71 Open: Lam makes cut and Singapore golf history Open: Late bogies mean early exit for Prayad IGF forms Olympic Committee with eye to 2016 Mission Hills to host AP Summit GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES R 3: Norman takes a two shot lead R 3: Duval stumbles to an 83 R 3: Injury bonus for Harrington R 3: Wakefield boosts local hopes R 3: KJ Choi remains in contention R 3: Garcia disappointed with a 74

Chawalit becomes 21st million dollar man

Thailand’s sweet-swinging Chawalit Plaphol has added another feather in his cap when he surpassed the US$1 million barrier in career earnings after the conclusion of the Pine Valley Beijing Open on Sunday.

Chawalit’s tied 35th finish at the Pine Valley Golf Club in China’s capital city saw him take his career winnings to US$1,002,284 and made him the seventh player from Thailand, and the 21st overall, to reach the milestone.

His achievement also ensured that Thailand maintained its leading position as the country with the most number of golfing millionaires on the Asian Tour with seven stars hitting the career landmark.

Compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, who showed a welcome return to form with a tied seventh finish in China, heads the career earnings with his collection of US$2.6 million, followed by India’s Jyoti Randhawa with US$2.2 million.

On the latest Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, there was no change in the top-10 of the
rankings with New Zealand’s Mark Brown heading the race for the region’s coveted title with his haul of US$651,093.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh is second on US$540,694 after the conclusion of 12 tournaments in the 2008 season. With plenty to play for, both Brown and Singh could make history by becoming the first players to surpass US$1 million in earnings in a single season in Asia.

A fourth place finish in the Chinese capital, which will host the Olympic Games in August, saw Tony Carolan of Australia move up to 21st place on the Order of Merit while Fijian Dinesh Chand moved up to 36th position after finishing third on Sunday.

Chand, who grew up caddying for former world number one Vijay Singh who is an Asian Tour honorary member, has played primarily on the Japan Golf Tour over the past decade but said he was enjoying his stint on the Asian Tour.

“This is a great result for me. The collaboration between the Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour (in sanctioning the Beijing Open) is a good move and I hope to see more of these events take place,” said Chand.

“Finishing strongly in this event helps me in both ways, in Asia and Japan. I hope to focus my game on the Asian Tour more and I want to finish strongly here. I enjoy playing on the Asian Tour.”

The Asian Tour takes a short break before resuming with the 13th leg at the Bangkok Airways Open in Samui, Thailand from June 5-8.

ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT – TOP-20 (click here for full list)

1. Mark BROWN (NZL) 651,093
2. Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 540,694
3. S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 439,930
4. Arjun ATWAL (IND) 419,387
5. Scott STRANGE (AUS) 280,985
6. Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 256,643
7. LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 246,116
8. Kane WEBBER (AUS) 230,304
9. Taichiro KIYOTA (JPN) 217,163
10. Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 198,271
11. NOH Seung-yul (KOR) 186,173
12. Digvijay SINGH (IND) 152,781
13. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 150,487
14. Scott HEND (AUS) 139,064
15. Scott BARR (AUS) 134,001
16. LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 127,004
17. Shiv KAPUR (IND) 121,294
18. HWANG Inn-choon (KOR) 118,577
19. Gaurav GHEI (IND) 115,274
20. BAE Sang-moon (KOR) 108,852

May 12, 2008