GAVIN STILL LEADS

Malaysian hangs on to Order of Merit amid bad week

GAVIN Green is still ahead in the money game despite a bad week in the Hong Kong Open. The Malaysian, who finished joint 62nd in the Hong Kong Open yesterday, still leads the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

India’s S.S.P Chawrasia, who was leading in the Hong Kong Open from day one, could have overtaken Gavin in the Order of Merit if he had not carded a 72 in the final round.

Chawrasia could have gone on to win the US$2 million Hong Kong Open to overtake Gavin as the leader of the tour’s Order of Merit.

Managing eight-under 272 following a triple bogey on the 9th, Chawrasia finished joint seventh alongside American Micah Lauren Shin and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain to earn US$51,600.

Taiwan Masters winner Gavin came in joint 62nd with Australian Scott Hend and Mukesh Kumar of India with a fiveover 285 (69-68-74-74) to earn US$5,200.

“It has not been a good week. But it’s part of golf, I guess. You play some good weeks and you have some bad weeks,” said Gavin, who will turn 24 next month.

“It’s only my first time here and I think I did okay the first two days. The last couple of days, I just didn’t finish well,” added Gavin, who has a US$142,558 lead over Chawrasia.

Gavin, who has pocketed US$572,536 after 15 events, aims to be Malaysia’s first winner of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

However, Gavin can’t count his money yet, so to speak, as there are still three major tournaments left in the tour — the Mauritius Open (Nov 30-Dec 3), Joburg Open in South Africa (Dec 7-10) and Indonesian Masters (Dec 14-17).