TAIWAN'S Lin Keng-chi wrote his name into Asian golfing history yesterday, staving off the challenge of Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit to top the inaugural Omega Tour Order of Merit standings. However, it was anything but an easy ride for 29-year-old Lin who began the week US$12,802 ahead of his 39-year-old rival and ended it just US$4,478 in front. It was a fittingly enthralling climax to a gruelling season which spanned eight months and 17 tournaments in 12 countries.
While Lin was a worthy champion there was widespread sympathy for Boonchu, who had struck the first shot of the Tour last June and was the sentimental favourite. Going into yesterday's final round of the Omega PGA Championship, Boonchu was tied for 12th while Lin was languishing in joint 37th spot. And after a day of wildly fluctuating fortunes, ultimately the destination of the merit crown rested on the outcome of Boonchu's 15-foot eagle putt at the 525-yard 18th, although at the time he was unaware of the fact.
'I misread it. I thought it was going to be faster,' said the Thai, who agonisingly left his putt two feet short. He tapped-in for a closing birdie and a round of two-under-par 68. That put him in a tie for sixth position with five other players. Each collected a cheque for US$12,554. If Boonchu's eagle attempt had been successful he would have shared fifth place with Indian Jeev Milkha Singh and picked up US$18,750 - sufficient to overhaul Lin. By the time Boonchu putted out, Lin had already been back in the clubhouse for more than an hour. He, too, closed with a 68 which saw him rise into a share of 30th spot which earned him US$4,230 and took his season's winnings to US$177,856.
It was a topsy-turvy round for Lin who recorded successive double-bogeys at the fifth and sixth, but stopped the bleeding with an eagle at the par-five seventh where he holed a putt from 75 feet. While Boonchu was left to reflect on what might have been, Lin took his success very much in his stride. 'Before the tournament started I realised the situation, but I didn't think much about it and didn't pay great attention to how Boonchu was doing because I didn't want to increase the pressure on myself,' said Lin, who won three tournaments during the season and led the merit standings from October.
'For me, I've been more concerned about doing well in each of the events. If I did that, then I knew my placing in the Order of Merit would take care of itself,' he added. Boonchu, victorious in the Langkawi Open and Burma Open, was remorseful. 'At my age I know it's unlikely I'll have such a good chance to win the Order of Merit. I kick myself for not playing a couple more tournaments,' Boonchu said.
Lin and Boonchu each took part in 12 of the tournaments, although the Thai missed out on a couple of big-money events in Korea where he considered conditions would have been too cold for his liking. Both, however, have performed admirably, sometimes in the face of adversity. Boonchu suffered from a hip injury at the start of the season.