Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung got himself back into the driver’s seat of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit following his runner-up finish at the PGM MIDF KLGCC Masters on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Fung regained top spot on the rankings after earning US$7,105 to take his season’s tally to US$43,998 with one tournament remaining for the 2013 season. Previous Merit leader James Bowen of the United States slipped into second place with US$38,444 after finishing 41st in Malaysia.
Another Malaysian, Iain Steel remained in the crucial third position on the Merit list with US$36,623 after coming in tied 28th on a week when Masaru Takahashi of Japan claimed his first ADT title with a three-stroke victory at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
The top-three players at the end of the 2013 season will earn prized Asian Tour cards for next year, hence it will be all to play for at the final tournament. Details of the season-ending event, which will be held in early January, will be announced in due course.
Canadian Lindsey Renolds sits in fourth place, just a little over US$1,000 behind Steel while England’s Grant Jackson is fifth with US$27,180.
Fung has enjoyed an impressive season on the ADT, which is the secondary circuit in the region operated by the Asian Tour. He won the PGM UMW Templer Park Masters earlier in the year and has added six other top-10s, including three runner-up outings.
“This is already my third runner-up finish this season but I’m happy with my performance so far. I’m glad to be on top of the merit list now. Hopefully I can maintain my good form till the end of the season,” said Fung.
Into its fourth season, all ADT events receive Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points starting from this year. Winners on the ADT will receive a minimum of six world ranking points while the top six players and ties will earn points based on a sliding scale.
The ADT was launched in 2010 with five tournaments before growing to eight in 2011 and 13 last year. By the time the 2013 season concludes in January, it would have offered a record 16 tournaments.
ADT ORDER OF MERIT (TOP-10)
Pos Player Country Earnings (US$)
1. Nicholas FUNG (Mas) 43,998
2. James BOWEN (USA) 38,444
3. Iain STEEL (Mas) 36,623
4. Lindsay RENOLDS (Can) 35,387
5. Grant JACKSON (Eng) 27,180
6. HUNG Chien-yao (Tpe) 23,511
7. Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN (Tha) 22,495
8. Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (Jpn) 21,134
9. Darren TAN (Aus) 20,347
10. Daniel BRINGOLF (Aus) 19,363
