Thongchai Sets New Record in Asian Tour Order of Merit

Thongchai Sets New Record in Asian Tour Order of Merit 

Kuala Lumpur, November 9: Thai star Thongchai Jaidee has rewrote another piece of Asian Tour history by breaking his own record of money won in a single season following his runner-up finish at the Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam on Sunday.

He picked up a cheque of US$22,260 at Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club in Hanoi after losing by two strokes to surprise winner Angelo Que of the Philippines and raised his season's winnings to US$354,635.

Thongchai's current haul, which placed him firmly atop the Asian Tour Order of Merit, eclipsed his previous record set in 2001 when he became Asia's number one after winning US$353,060.

Thongchai also increased his lead over second-ranked Simon Yates of Scotland to US$69,147.

Yates skipped the inaugural Carlsberg Masters Vietnam to prepare for an assault on the US PGA Tour Qualifying School Stage Two next week, which the Thai has also entered.

India's Jyoti Randhawa remained in third place on US$248,309 while Boonchu Ruangkit of Thailand, still firing on all cylinders at the age of 48, became the fourth player to surpass the US$200,000 mark following his tied fourth finish in Hanoi, collecting US$208,878 from 16 starts.

While the focus is firmly on the Order of Merit battle, another intense race is shaping up for players to qualify for the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Kuala Lumpur from December 9-12.

The top-60 players on the money list will earn places in the US$550,000 event and also keep their full playing privileges for next season. They have two more events – the Volvo China Open (November 25-28) and the Omega Hong Kong Open (December 2-5) – to qualify for the Volvo Masters of Asia. In all, the Asian Tour will stage 22 tournaments in 2004.

Que, the eighth first-time winner on the Asian Tour this season, won US$32,300 for his breakthrough triumph and moved up to 50th place on the Order of Merit with earnings of US$36,933.

Amongst the players on the bubble include former Tour winners Des Terblanche of South Africa (71st), Yeh Chang-ting of Chinese Taipei (73rd), Korea's Choi Gwang-soo (76th) and Malaysia's Danny Chia (77th).

REMAINING EVENTS

November 25-28, Volvo China Open*, Shanghai Silport Golf Club, US$1 million

December 2-5, Omega Hong Kong Open*, Hong Kong Golf Club, US$800,000

December 9-12, Volvo Masters of Asia, Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, Malaysia, US$550,000

* Joint sanctioned with European Tour.

ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT – TOP-20

POS PLAYER 2004(US$)

1. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 354,635

2. Simon YATES (SCO) 285,488

3. Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 248,309

4. Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 208,878

5. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 191,254

6. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 188,801

7. Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 176,443

8. Simon DYSON (ENG) 170,118

9. Charlie WI (KOR) 167,483

10. Brad KENNEDY (AUS) 165,537

11. Greg HANRAHAN (USA) 165,513

12. Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 136,777

13. Edward LOAR (USA) 112,409

14. Adam GROOM (AUS) 105,607

15. MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 102,217

16. Rick GIBSON (CAN) 95,833

17. Jason KNUTZON (USA) 93,772

18. CHEN Yuan-chi (TPE) 86,310

19. ZHANG Lian-wei (CHN) 84,437

20. Unho PARK (AUS) 82,216

• Asiantour.com