Anirban Lahiri Inches Closer to David Lipsky on Order of Merit
Anirban Lahiri pocketed USD 43,250 to trail Lipsky by about USD 118,256 while Thailand's Prom Meesawat lurks in third position following a top-10 result at Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.
Top Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri closed the gap on Asian Tour Order of Merit leader David Lipsky of the United States after finishing tied second at the King's Cup.
Lahiri pocketed USD 43,250 to trail Lipsky by about USD 118,256 while Thailand's Prom Meesawat lurks in third position following a top-10 result at Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.
Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, who won his 18th Asian Tour title at the King's Cup, moved up to seventh position on the Order of Merit with a season's haul of USD 268,882. He also won the Queen's Cup on home soil in June.
Lahiri, who led the King's Cup for the first three days, was disappointed not to win his third Asian Tour title this year. But with three tournaments remaining on the 2014 Asian Tour season, Lahiri still has a fighting chance to win the prestigious Order of Merit crown and break inside the top-50 in the world.
"It's a solid week all in all and I'm happy with the way I'm playing. I just got to pick myself up and win the BANK BRI Indonesia Open. I would have like to have won last week because I'm running out of tournaments," said Lahiri.
"I've to win at least one of these next three events to have a chance at winning the Order of Merit. I'm a little upset I didn't close it out as I led wire-to-wire. I guess Thaworn was the better player. I don't think I played poorly but it was just not good enough to close it out," added Lahiri, who is currently ranked 70th in the world.
Prom, who ended an eight-year title drought with a second Asian Tour victory at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Chinese Taipei in September, continued to enjoy his best season on the Asian Tour.
His current earnings of USD 526,171 is the highest amount he has earned in a single season since making his debut on the region's premier Tour in 2004. Prom will also feature in the USD 750,000 BANK BRI Indonesia Open this week.
The Asian Tour heads to the USD 750,000 BANK BRI Indonesia Open in Jakarta where the Asian Tour stars will continue their chase for honours at the Damai Indah Golf, Pantai Indah Kapuk Course from December 4 to 7.