Miri, Malaysia: Peter Richardson of England is aiming to extend his lead on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit with a win at the inaugural PGM-Eastwood Valley Masters later this month.

Richardson has missed only one cut in eight appearances on the ADT this season, highlighted by one victory and a second place finish at the PGM Sarawak Masters two weeks ago.

He hopes to carry his impressive form into the 11th leg of the ADT which will be played at the Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club from October 31 to November 3.

The race for the top three places on the Order of Merit will heat up at the Eastwood Valley Masters as seven players from the top-10 of the Order of Merit are in the field. The top three players at the end of the ADT season will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for 2013.

Richardson has so far won US$22,827 this season and his earnings could have been even higher if not for a back injury which forced him to sit out two ADT events in Indonesia earlier this year.

He hopes to follow in the footsteps of former teammates at the Purdue University, Shiv Kapur of India and Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul, who have enjoyed success on the established Asian Tour.

“Every opportunity that I get to play in Asia brings me closer to my dream of playing on the Asian Tour. Everything is so well organised that I just have to focus on doing my best,” said Richardson.

Richardson is determined to make amends from his near miss in Sarawak a fortnight ago when he was defeated by a fast charging Kenneth De Silva of Malaysia, who returned with a brilliant 65 to win by one shot.

De Silva, currently 12th on the Order of Merit, leads the local challenge at the Eastwood Valley Masters alongside young talents Jeremiah Kim, Rizal Amin and Haziq Hamizan.

By Indian Sports News Network