Chinese stalwart Liang Wenchong is on a mission this season
hoping to stay at the top of the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit
after chalking up his seventh top-10 result at the Macao Open on
Sunday.
Thanks to his fourth place finish last week, Liang took a giant
step forward when he dislodged South African Anton Haig at the top
of the rankings with total earnings of $438,252. He collected
$14,790 for his efforts on Sunday as the 28-year-old talent is now
determined to become the first ever Chinese UBS Order of Merit
winner.
"Every player on Tour wants to win this title, that's for sure.
Since I won the Singapore Masters, that has given me a lot of
confidence. I was telling myself that I'm not going to win just the
small ones but I want to go for the big ones including the UBS
Order of Merit," said the Zhongshan-born golfer.
Liang first broke into the top-100 on the rankings seven years
ago and enjoyed his best finish in Asia in 2002 when he was ranked
12th. He remained steady in 2006 missing the cut in only two out of
the ten events competed to finish in 16th place on the
standings.
With one win under his belt and six other top-10 finishes this
season, the three-time China Amateur Open winner has now embarked
on a new challenge hoping to compete in as many events as possible
to reach his target of becoming Asia's number one.
"Since winning in Singapore, it opens up my goal to win the
Order of Merit," said Liang, who finished second best at the GS
Caltex Maekyung Open three weeks ago.
"That's the direction that I want to keep. I know golf is very
competitive. I am leading the UBS Order of Merit but it could be a
clubhouse lead as there could be some other player who can take
over the lead. I'm always thinking about this as this is a title
that I want. There is still a lot of golf to play," admitted Liang,
who has already set his sights on the big prize.
"I'm going to play in most of the events after the Johor
Classic. But the important one will be the Singapore Open as there
is a big prize money in that event. We'll be chasing in this
event."
In hot pursuit is in-form Indian star Gaurav Ghei who enjoyed a
third place finish on Sunday. Ghei was gunning for his? second
success this season after having won the Pine Valley Beijing Open
last month. He climbed up to sixth on the rankings with earnings of
$207,464.
South African Haig is currently in second spot with $427,685
while Australian rookie Scott Hend lurks in third place and trails
Liang by $105,792. The big-hitting Hend will be on the chase as he
has already delivered four top-10s this season that included two
runner-up finishes.
Chinese Taipei veteran Lu Wen-teh took the top prize of $47,550
on Sunday. He leaped to 26th place on the rankings with total
earnings of $82,198 while Richard Moir of Australia, who finished
second last week, was ranked 50th with $42,492.
(China Daily via Asiantour.com May 25, 2007)
