Kuala Lumpur, December 9: Prom Meesawat vows to continue the fight for a long-awaited second Asian Tour victory after losing on the first playoff hole to Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain at the Hong Kong Open on Sunday.
It was the burly Thai’s fourth career lost in sudden-death but he took solace in the defeat which has fuelled his desire to take aim at the star-studded US$1 million Thailand Golf Championship this week.
“I’m heading to Thailand so hopefully I can raise the Thai flag for the Thailand Golf Championship,” smiled Prom, nicknamed ‘Big Dolphin’ due to his physique and because he hails from the coastal town of Hua Hin.
He took pride in his battling performance in Hong Kong, highlighted by a final round five-under-par 65 which included two eagles at the challenging Hong Kong Golf Club.
With two runner-up results, including a playoff defeat to Liang Wen-chong in the Philippines last month, and one top-10 finish so far this season, Prom insists that he has the game to return to the winner’s circle since his career breakthrough in Korea in 2006.
“It was an amazing week for me. I didn't feel any disappointment in the playoff. I did the best, and my best finish on that golf course, as well. Very happy with my form and the way I'm playing right now,” said Prom.
“My game is not feeling that bad. I didn't do any mistakes but somebody just played better than me. So I’m still feeling very good.”
Prom’s second place finish earned him a cool US$112,910 which moved him up to eighth position on the Order of Merit with a season haul of US$289,970, giving him a glimmer of hope to qualify for the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM Asian team next March.
With the top four Asian players at the end of the 2013 season qualifying for Team Asia to face Europe in the Ryder Cup-styled EurAsia Cup at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Malaysia, the talented Prom will aim to represent the Asian team on his own merit.
More than US$170,000 separates him from fourth placed Gaganjeet Bhullar of India and it will be a tight race to the finishing line to see who earns a spot in the Asian team.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand has virtually won the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$1,117,074 while Scott Hend of Australia, a three-time winner in 2013, sits in second on US$571,400.
Bangladeshi star Siddikur is placed third with earnings of US$486,667 courtesy of his victory at the Hero Indian Open last month followed by Anirban Lahiri of India (US$427,496), Liang Wen-chong of China (US$398,798) and Baek Seuk-hyun of Korea (US$323,743) in fifth, sixth and seventh positions respectively.
The Asian Tour’s next stop will be at the US$1 million Thailand Golf Championship which is played at the majestic Amata Spring Country Club from December 12 to 15.
ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT (TOP-20)
Pos Player Order of Merit
1 Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 1,117,074
2 Scott HEND (AUS) 571,400
3 Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 486,667
4 Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 462,378
5 Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 427,496
6 LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 398,798
7 BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 323,743
8 Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 289,970
9 Shiv KAPUR (IND) 289,871
10 Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 262,697
11 Wade ORMSBY (AUS) 241,234
12 Angelo QUE (PHI) 236,821
13 Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 198,055
14 S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 196,731
15 Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 186,568
16 Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 173,558
17 KIM Gi-whan (KOR) 169,484
18 Berry HENSON (USA) 164,401
19 Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 159,787
20 Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 156,072
