![\"SSP-CHOWRASIA\"](\"images\/golf\/SSP-CHOWRASIA.jpg\")
Kuala Lumpur: India\u2019s S.S.P. Chowrasia believes he is getting closer to a first Asian Tour victory outside of his country after a strong showing at the Ballantine\u2019s championship in Korea last week.<\/p>\nKuala Lumpur: India\u2019s S.S.P. Chowrasia believes he is getting closer to a first Asian Tour victory outside of his country after a strong showing at the Ballantine\u2019s championship in Korea last week.<\/p>\n
The double Asian Tour winner finished strongly to come in tied 11th on Sunday and moved up to 18th place on the latest Order of Merit. Chowrasia has won twice on home soil in the past five years but thinks he is finally headed in the right direction in his search for a third title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve regained a lot of confidence especially with my results recently. I finished tied fifth at the Panasonic Open India and today\u2019s (Sunday) round really gave me back my self-belief,\u201d said Chowrasia, who closed with a four-under-par 68.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been working on my putting and it has been getting better day by day. I\u2019m trying to get my first win outside of India and hopefully that win will come very soon based on my current form,\u201d added the Indian, who needed only 26 putts on the last day.<\/p>\n
Another man in good form is Thailand\u2019s Thongchai Jaidee, who stormed up the leaderboard with a closing 65 for a share of the sixth place. A cheque of US$76,024 moved Thongchai into sixth position on the Order of Merit, which is still led by countryman Kiradech Aphibarnrat.<\/p>\n
Thongchai heads to the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters at Royale Jakarta Golf Club this week where he will seek a 14th Asian Tour title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we are very confident right now,\u201d said the three-time Asian Tour number one. \u201cIt\u2019s just a case of getting the putting to work and my game will be better.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m enjoying my golf right now. I just have to think about my putting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kiradech extended his lead at the top of the Merit list with another US$45,840 added to his season\u2019s haul of US$662,375 after finishing equal 11th in Korea.<\/p>\n
Closest rival Gaganjeet Bhullar of India uncharacteristically missed the halfway cut while Australia\u2019s Scott Hend finished joint 31st to take his season\u2019s tally to US$229,638. Hend will be hoping to narrow the gap in Indonesia this week.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s Liang Wen-chong, who settled for a share of 55th position in Korea, is fourth on the Order of Merit with US$185,383 while Korea\u2019s Baek Seuk-hyun is fifth.<\/p>\n
The US$750,000 CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters, headlined by reigning Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand and British Open champion Ernie Els, is a full-field Asian Tour event and will be starting on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Asian Tour is celebrating its milestone 10th season as a players\u2019 organisation in 2013.<\/p>\n
Pos Player Earnings (US$)<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 662,375<\/p>\n 2. Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 269,066<\/p>\n 3. Scott HEND (AUS) 229,638<\/p>\n 4. LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 185,383<\/p>\n 5. BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 147,004<\/p>\n 6. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 122,672<\/p>\n 7. Wade ORMSBY (AUS) 118,134<\/p>\n 8. KIM Gi-whan (KOR) 108,467<\/p>\n 9. SIDDIKUR (BAN) 90,065<\/p>\n 10. Shiv KAPUR (IND) 87,566<\/p>\n 11. Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 86,586<\/p>\n 12. Bryce EASTON (RSA) 85,005<\/p>\n 13. Berry HENSON (USA) 83,900<\/p>\n 14. Joonas GRANBERG (FIN) 80,812<\/p>\n 15. KIM Hyung-sung (KOR) 76,024<\/p>\n 16. Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 74,196<\/p>\n 17. Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 63,969<\/p>\n 18. S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 62,946<\/p>\n 19. Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 61,620<\/p>\n 20. Mithun PERERA (SRI) 61,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The double Asian Tour winner finished strongly to come in tied 11th on Sunday and moved up to 18th place on the latest Order of Merit. Chowrasia has won twice on home soil in the past five years but thinks he is finally headed in the right direction in his search for a third title.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve regained a lot of confidence especially with my results recently. I finished tied fifth at the Panasonic Open India and today\u2019s (Sunday) round really gave me back my self-belief,\u201d said Chowrasia, who closed with a four-under-par 68.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-latest"],"yoast_head":"\n
ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT – TOP-20<\/strong><\/p>\nKuala Lumpur: India\u2019s S.S.P. Chowrasia believes he is getting closer to a first Asian Tour victory outside of his country after a strong showing at the Ballantine\u2019s championship in Korea last week.<\/p>\n