Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung hopes his breakthrough on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) will inspire his fellow countrymen to follow his footsteps and use the ADT as a stepping stone to the Asian Tour.

Fung, who won the PGM UMW Templer Park Masters over the weekend, took home a winner’s prize purse of US$11,010 and propelled to the top of the ADT Order of Merit where he leads with a total earnings of US$23,471.

“I want to be an example to other Malaysians. I hope more Malaysians will play on the Asian Tour. If I can do it, so can the other players,” smiled the 23-year-old who is the second Malaysian after Danny Chia to triumph on the ADT this season.

Fung is delighted that his win has served as a timely confidence boost and is now setting his sights on winning on the Asian Tour, which is celebrating its 10th season this year.

“I’m getting better because I can win on the ADT. Now, I’m looking forward to win on the Asian Tour. There are many international players here so it isn’t easy to win. I tried really hard,” said Fung, who earned his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in Thailand earlier this year.

James Bowen of the United States and Grant Jackson of England are currently ranked second and third, respectively on the ADT Order of Merit.

Together with Fung, the trio will aim to secure their second ADT title at the upcoming US$65,000 Aboitiz Invitational which is slated to take place in Philippines later this month.

The top three players on the Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn Asian Tour cards for the following year.

With all ADT events receiving Official World Golf rankings (OWGR) points starting this year, players will enjoy more opportunities to improve their world rankings.

The OWGR will be also be used to determine the top 60-man field at the World Cup of Golf in Australia this November and the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro in 2016.

The ADT was launched in 2010 with five tournaments before growing to eight in 2011 and 13 last year. It has proven to be a successful platform for upcoming players to gain entry into the region’s premier Tour, which is celebrating its milestone 10th season in 2013.

Created along the lines of the European Challenge Tour and Web.com Tour in the United States, the ADT will reward the top-three players on the final Order of Merit with Asian Tour cards for the following year.

Asian Development Tour Order of Merit – Top-20

 

Pos        Player                               Earnings (US$)

1 Nicholas FUNG (MAS)                        23,471.60

2 James BOWEN (USA)                        18,790.27

3 Grant JACKSON (ENG)                     18,004.73

4 Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (JPN)             17,444.38

5 Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN)                 16,900.58

6 James BYRNE (SCO)                        14,138.09

7 Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE)             9,394.47

8 Wolmer MURILLO (VEN)                    9,048.11

9 Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN (THA)     9,040.65

10 Wasin SRIPATTRANUSORN (THA)  8,922.21

11 Quincy QUEK (SIN)                          8,128.95

12 R. Nachimuthu (MAS)                       7,188.47

13 Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 5,825.85

14 LAM Chih Bing (SIN)                          5,460.89

15 Nils FLOREN (SWE)                          5,392.81

16 Ratchapol JANTAVARA (THA)          5,380.47

17 Shaaban HUSSIN (MAS)                   5,204.96

18 Darren TAN (AUS)                            4,489.24

19 George GANDRANATA (INA)            3,525.51

20 Michael TRAN (VIE)                          3,523.12