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 Ben Leong claims maiden victory PGA: Jeev and Wi tie for ninth Prom targets Thai win in Brunei Shin Ji-yai takes Women's British Open Asian Tour starts 2nd half on a high Norman to play 2009 Johnnie Walker Mission Hills to host AP Summit GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Paul Azinger names US wildcards Faldo chooses Casey and Poulter Havret gains wire to wire Gleneagles win Sluman clinches First Tee Open with closing 67 Fallout continues over LPGA "English" rule Poulter chooses high risk Ryder Cup strategy

Chapchai concedes Order of Merit crown to Liang

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat has conceded defeat in his gripping battle with Liang Wen-chong for Asian supremacy.

The big-hitting Thai shot a gutsy one-under-par 71 in the third round of the Volvo Masters of Asia for a total of five-under-par 211 and trails leader Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines by 10 strokes.

Chapchai, a two-time winner this season, needed a triumph this week and Chinese ace Liang to finish out of the top three to lift the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit title.

Liang, who has led the Merit race since May, shot a disappointing two-over-par 74 to fall six strokes behind his Thai rival for the crown that looks none the less certain to be heading to China for the first time.

“I cannot win the Volvo Masters of Asia now. I have never really targeted the Order of Merit,” said 24-year-old Chapchai.

“I am happy that people were talking about me having a chance of overtaking Liang Wen-chong but I was not thinking about that. At the start of the season I was looking to finish in the top 10 and at the start of this week I was in second spot.”

Liang, who started the week with earnings of US$525,570 and was US$95,005 ahead of Chapchai, finished an hour earlier than his Thai rival and did not know that he had virtually sealed the Asian number one spot.

He said that he had been giving too much thought to the UBS Order of Merit race and that had affected his form at the magnificent Thai Country Club.

“I’ve been thinking too much this week. This is also my eighth tournament in a row and I’m a little tired,” said the 29-year-old from Zhongshan.

“Last week I felt good (with a third place finish in Japan) but this week I have been thinking too much about the Order of Merit. There’s no choice. I haven’t been able to concentrate on my game.”

Chapchai had an up and down front nine with two birdies and two bogeys but steadied coming in with a single birdie and no dropped shots en route to his 71.

“I did not drive the ball well today – I only hit two fairways during the round. If you cannot hit fairways you cannot score,” he said. “Today there was a bit of luck about my birdies. I chipped in at the ninth and 14th holes, both from about 15 feet.

Liang dropped a shot at the opening hole but two birdies saw him reach the turn in one under 35. He endured a poor inward nine with bogeys on the 12th, 16th and 18th holes.

“My back nine wasn’t good again. I had a bogey at the 18th hole for the third time by pulling my approach left of the green. There are still a few holes left for Chapchai (Nirat) and you don’t know what he’s going to do,” said Liang, who has had a great year with one victory and eight other top-10 finishes.

December 8, 2007