VOLVO MASTERS OF ASIA RELATED STORIES Volvo Masters of Asia home page Preview: Liang is looking for double happiness Round 1: Strange goes two ahead with opening 65 Round 1: Late birdies keep Chapchai in OoM hunt Round 2: Pagunsan and Hend lead, as Chapchai keeps his hopes alive Round 2: Chapchai heaps the pressure on Liang Round 3: Pagunsan opens four shot lead with a 66 Round 3: Chapchai concedes Merit race to Liang Round 4: Prayad birdies 72nd hole to win Final Scores & Prize Money About the Thai CC course Five to watch this week Order of Merit showdown in Bangkok 2007 stats crowns on the line at Volvo Masters Thongchai wants a Royal celebration victory Thai stars out to win for K. Supphaporn 2006 flashback - One tournament, two champions Thongchai going for Volvo Masters double delight Kapur is looking for second Volvo victory Minoza wants to step up a gear at Volvo Volvo Masters course will test Asia's finest Volvo Masters of Asia to stay at Thai Country Club Volvo Masters of Asia gets prize money boost Volvo Masters of Asia 2006 home page Full details of the Thai Country Club ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Bae clinches home win Tanihara takes Panasonic title Su Dong's lead cut to two Hole-in-One Jeev shares the lead Korea, Philippines, Italy for World Cup Lu wins record 4th Taiwan Masters Aussie PGA rethinks 'One Asia' GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Fred Couples to enlist some unusual help Paula Creamer seeking another home town win Jay Haas on brink of another senior money title Justin Leonard looking to break Texas Open record Father & Son event sign up with Sky Sports

Late birdies keep Chapchai in Order of Merit hunt

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat kept his slim hopes of winning the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit alive with birdies at the final two holes for a one-under-par 71 in the opening round of the Volvo Masters of Asia.

Chapchai outscored playing partner and Merit leader Liang Wen-chong of China by a stroke at Thai Country Club but is six behind leader Scott Strange of Australia.

The big-hitting Chapchai needs to win this week and Liang to finish out of the top three to be crowned Asia’s number one. He is US$95,005 behind Liang who has enjoyed a sterling season with one victory and eight other top-10 finishes.

"I do not want to think about the Order of Merit," said Chapchai, a two-time winner in 2007. "I have already surpassed my expectations by moving up to second – my goal this year was a top 10 finish.

"I am not really chasing a victory this week – I do not want to put extra pressure on myself."

Chapchai, nicknamed "King Kong" by his peers, was struggling at one over par after 16 holes before his grandstand finish.

"It was a good way to end," said the burly 24-year-old. "I had a birdie on 17 and then chipped in for another one at the last. I drove the ball quite well today and my irons were good but I did not putt well – I had 27 putts."

Liang, who has led the race for the prestigious Order of Merit crown since May, bogeyed the third hole but went to one under for his round with an eagle at the fourth.

A birdie at the seventh saw him reach the turn in two under par but he dropped a shot at the 10th hole and slipped behind Chapchai with a bogey at the last which he three-putted.

"My putting was average," said the 29-year-old from Zhongshan. "I missed a few short putts which was disappointing and three putted the 18th for bogey. I have to go practice my putting now.

"We will not know what will happen tomorrow. If the pins are tough, then it will be tough to score. I am hitting the ball good. So I just need to sort out the putting."

Click here for first round leaderboard

December 6, 2007