Quiet-man Cunning bags Merit honour

Mike Cunning lived up to his reputation as the quiet achiever of Asian golf when he was honoured as the Omega Tour's 1997 Order of Merit champion.

'I'm not used to this. I never usually have to do the talking,' the 39-year-old American told the audience at the circuit's end-of-season gala dinner at the Conrad Hotel.

Cunning was referring to the fact that he had become accustomed to finishing second, third and fourth, but was still awaiting his first Omega Tour victory.

In terms of consistency, though, nobody was able to match him this year. In 17 starts he posted 11 top-10 finishes, compiling earnings of US$170,619. That was almost US$47,000 ahead of second-placed Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand.

Ironically, Cunning's only missed cut came in last week's Omega PGA Championship at Clearwater Bay. After failing to qualify for the final two rounds, he spent an anxious weekend waiting to see whether he would be pipped by Gerry Norquist, Jim Rutledge or Ted Purdy.

'I turned on the television to watch, but couldn't bear to look so I switched it off,' said Cunning, who did not receive confirmation of his triumph until Norquist phoned him upon returning to the hotel on Sunday evening.