Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang is targeting the Asian Tour Order of Merit title and is hoping to become the first player from his country to achieve the feat in 27 years following his victory in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at Blue Canyon Country Club last week.
View this post on Instagram
He moved into second place on the Merit list and is looking to build on the momentum from that win at the Laguna Phuket Championship, which tees-off on Thursday at Laguna Golf Phuket in the second and final leg of the Phuket Series.
Related Content: Asian Tour’s Mr 59 eyes another ‘low’ at Laguna Phuket
“Now that I’m second on the Order of Merit, I am going to try to win the Merit list,” said Chan.
“There are still a few events to go and it’s not easy to win it but now that I have a chance, I will go for it and do my best.”
Australian Wade Ormsby, also playing this week, currently leads the Merit list with earnings of $237,003, Chan is second on US$211,775, while 19-year-old Joohyung Kim sits third with $194,628.
View this post on Instagram
Also Read:- Jayaditya Saluja finishes third in Singapore Junior Masters
The last player from Chan’s homeland to claim the Merit crown was Lin Keng-chi in 1995.
“I was struggling with a stiff neck on the first day I got to Phuket. I didn’t sleep well and could not quite complete my swing, actually. I felt like I could only go back three quarters and I couldn’t hit it hard too.”
Despite that, he shot a final round four-under-par 68 to finish on 18 under par at Blue Canyon and beat two rising stars in the game, Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Kim, by a shot.
“I felt like I was swinging with a rain jacket on. Thankfully the course last week wasn’t too long. As long as I can find the fairway, I’m okay with my second shots and short game, which are my strengths.”
It was his first win on the Asian Tour in five years. Both his previous wins came in 2016, first in the King’s Cup here in Thailand and then the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan. He is also a six-time winner on the Asian Development Tour ‒ the last of those coming in 2018.
View this post on Instagram
Read More:- Tiger Woods ‘at peace with different way of practice’ post recovery
Asian Tour
