October 19, 2005 20:38 PM

Thaworn Hits US$400,000 Mark To Lead Asian Tour Order Of Merit

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Thai stalwart Thaworn Wiratchant became the first player in Asian golf history to surpass the US$400,000 mark in earnings for a season following the conclusion of the Bangkok Airways Open.

The 38-year-old Thaworn finished 13th at Santiburi Samui Country Club last weekend to pocket a cheque of US$3,216, swelling his season's earnings to a record US$400,975.

Thaworn, winner of the Standard Chartered Indonesia Open and Taiwan Open this year, remained atop the Asian Tour Order of Merit with six events remaining.

Compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, the 2004 Asian Tour's number one, stayed second on the money ranking after finishing fifth on home soil and added US$7,300 to his tally which now stands at US$353,720, some US$47,255 behind Thaworn.

India's Jyoti Randhawa is a distant third with US$214,120.

There was no Malaysian in the top 20 of the list.

Taiwan veteran Lu Wen-teh, who ended a seven-year winless run after a play-off triumph over Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand on Sunday to win US$31,500, moved up from 14th to eighth place with a career high earnings of US$145,535.

"It's great to win again as competition on the Asian Tour is getting very tough," said Wen-teh in a statement released by the Asian Tour, here Wednesday.

Malaysia's Danny Chia, who finished 61st last week, currently sits on the bubble in 60th place with US$49,343.

The Asian Tour will head to the US$300,000 Hero Honda Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club next week. India's US PGA Tour star Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa, both former Asian number ones, will headline the field.

ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT - TOP 20

1. Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) US$400,975; 2. Thongchai Jaidee (THA) $353,720; 3. Jyoti Randhawa (IND) $214,120; 4. Andrew Buckle (AUS) $202,163; 5. Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) $200,641; 6. Scott Barr (AUS) $155,088; 7. Ted Oh (KOR) $146,678; 8. Lu Wen-teh (TPE) $145,535; 9. Marcus Both (AUS) $144,214; 10. Lin Wen-tang (TPE) $135,348; 11. Prom Meesawat (THA) $124,021; 12. James Kingston (RSA) $121,781; 13. Prayad Marksaeng (THA) $121,065; 14. Anthony Kang (USA) $117,674; 15. Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) $116,478; 16. Liang Wen-chong (CHN) $112,579; 17. Scott Strange (AUS) $109,238; 18. David Brandson (AUS) $108,005; 19. Chawalit Plaphol (THA) $105,748; 20. Wang Ter-chang TPE) $104,446...60. Danny Chia (MAS) $49,343.

-- BERNAMA

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