September 26th 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Japanese star Tetsuji Hiratsuka has taken over the top spot on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit from long-time pacesetter S.S.P. Chowrasia of India following his victory at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open on Sunday.
Hiratsuka overhauled Chowrasia, winner of the season-opening Avantha Masters, with his winner’s cheque of US$384,000 raising his season’s tally to US$435,817. Chowrasia, who has earned US$410,653 this year, missed the halfway cut in Japan last week to slip back to second position.
South Africa’s Jbe Kruger moved up to third place with his equal fourth finish which took his earnings to US$252,817.
Hiratsuka, the only player to win three titles on the Asian Tour last year, was delighted to top the rankings for the first time this season but the 39-year-old knows there is still a long way to go before he can start thinking about being Asia’s number one by the end of the year.
“This win is very nice because I’ve not only won at home but it has also lifted me to the top of the Order of Merit. It’s still too early to say who will win the Order of Merit as there are many big events coming up from now,” said Hiratsuka, who splits his time competing on the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
Prior to his fourth career title on the Asian Tour, Hiratsuka failed to land any top 10 in four previous starts. He was in command in the final day of the Panasonic Open which saw him triumph by two shots.
“I just want to enjoy my win and my lead at the top of the ranking for now. I’ll continue to do my best until the end of the season and see where I eventually end up on the rankings,” said Hiratsuka.
Bangladeshi Siddikur dropped back to fourth place on the rankings after finishing 24th with his season’s earnings of US$238,246 while Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, the only man to win the Merit title three times, remained in fifth position with US$175,220.
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, Asia’s number one in 2006 and 2008, continued his resurgence with a tied fourth finish pushing him up to sixth place on the Order of Merit. It was a big leap for the Indian star as the top-six players will qualify for the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai in November while the top-10 players will qualify for the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia next month after the conclusion of the Hero Indian Open on October 16.
The Asian Tour will take a week’s break before heading to Taipei for the second edition of the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club from October 6-9. Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant is the title holder.
Asian Tour Order of Merit – Top-20
Pos Player Earnings (US$)
1. Tetsuji HIRATSUKA (JPN) 435,817
2. S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 410,653
3. Jbe KRUGER (RSA)252,871
4. SIDDIKUR (BAN) 238,246
5. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 175,220
6. Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 171,958
7. Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 151,362
8. Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 150,280
9. CHAN Yih-Shin (TPE) 149,136
10. Shiv KAPUR (IND) 144,580
11. Felipe AGUILAR (CHI) 136,837
12. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 135,057
13. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 124,700
14. Sujjan SINGH (IND) 110,394
15. MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 105,900
16. Daisuke MARUYAMA (JPN) 101,414
17. Joonas GRANBERG (FIN) 94,613
18. Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 90,300
19. David GLEESON (AUS) 86,235
20. Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 78,424
