Brown could be first one season $1m man

New Zealand star Mark Brown is poised to be the first player to break the US$1 million mark in earnings in a single season on the Asian Tour after a solid showing in China on Sunday.

Brown earned US$78,760 for his tied fifth place finish at the Volvo China Open on Sunday which swelled his total earnings this season to a new high of US$634,993. His efforts surpassed the previous record of US$591,884 achieved by India’s Jeev Milkha Singh in 2006.

With more than half the season still left to play, the Kiwi hotshot has set himself as the top favourite to become the first ever player to surpass the US$1 million mark in earnings in a single season.

It was a rejuvenated return for the former New Zealand Order of Merit winner who had a short stint on the Asian Tour in the mid-90s. After laying off the game for several years, Brown returned to the Asian Tour in 2007. He is now riding on a renewed game this season having won back-to-back titles at the SAIL Open and the Johnnie Walker Classic coupled with two top-10 finishes. Thanks to his steady run, Brown has a US$118,564 lead over second placed Singh on the Order of Merit race.

Kyi Hla Han, the Executive Chairman of the Asian Tour, commended the achievements of Brown which is a reflection of the continued growth of the Asian Tour.

“The greater playing opportunities that the Asian Tour is creating this season have clearly allowed Mark Brown to break the Tour’s record for earnings in a single year. It will be tremendous if Mark can go on to set a new record this season which speaks well of the growing strength and depth of the Asian Tour,” said Han.

India’a latest star S.S.P. Chowrasia is third on the rankings with total earnings of US$431,650 and is among the breed of young talents in the field having enjoyed his breakthrough success at the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters in February.

Compatriot Arjun Atwal returned to Asia this year and recorded his second triumph at the Maybank Malaysian Open and he is currently ranked fourth with US$419,387. Former Asian number one Jyoti Randhawa produced four top-10 finishes from six outings this season that includes a runner-up performance at the SAIL Open as he is ranked fifth with US$256,643.

England’s Simon Griffiths, with total earnings of US$185,871, rose up to ninth on the rankings after posting his best result this season in Beijing with a runner-up performance. China’s Liang Wen-chong, last year’s Order of Merit winner, will be hoping to follow suit for a steady rise on the rankings as he is currently in 18th position after earnings of US$93,884.

“I’m so touched to see so many of my fans carrying their umbrellas and supporting me out there in the pouring rain in. I now hope to put in a stronger performance for my fans in Shanghai,” said Liang.

The Asian Tour will now head to the BMW Asian Open this week held at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

Asian Tour Order of Merit top-20 (click here for the full list):

Pos Player Earnings (US$)

1 Mark BROWN (NZL) 634,993
2 Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 516,429
3 S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 431,650
4 Arjun ATWAL (IND) 419,387
5 Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 256,643
6 Scott STRANGE (AUS) 247,865
7 Kane WEBBER (AUS) 219,954
8 Taichiro KIYOTA (JPN) 202,418
9 Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 185,871
10 Scott BARR (AUS) 126,641
11 Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 126,512
12 Digvijay SINGH (IND) 124,616
13 LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 119,257
14 Gaurav GHEI (IND) 115,274
15 Shiv KAPUR (IND) 110,254
16 NOH Seung-yul (KOR) 108,913
17 Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 103,516
18 LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 93,884
19 Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 90,133
20 Adam BLYTH (AUS) 83,434

April 21, 2008

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