Bayron takes Merit title
Top three players from ADT Tour rewarded with cards for next year
I’m so glad that I hung in there and now I’m looking forward to and feeling very confident about playing on the Asian Tour next year
JAY Bayron is the new ADT Order of Merit champion. The Filipino was crowned the Tour’s top-gun after the season-ending Yeangder ADT tournament in Taipei on Friday.
He left Hsu Mong-nan of Chinese Taipei and England’s Peter Richardson settled for second and third.
For their efforts, the trio were richly rewarded with 2013 Asian Tour cards.
After claiming the Order of Merit list with US$34,309, thanks largely to two victories, Bayron said: “I felt a lot of pressure coming Taipei because a lot of guys had a chance to chase me down on the Order of Merit.
“But I’m glad I hung in there and I’m looking forward and feeling very confident about playing on the Asian Tour next year,” he added. Hsu, who had three runner-up finishes on the Tour this season, finished tied 18th at the Yeangder ADT event, which was won by Lu Chien-soon who became the oldest winner on the Asian Development Tour at the age of 52.
The winner was announced after the final round was called off due to inclement weather on Friday.
Hsu finished second on the Order of Merit with earnings of US$28,309, slightly over US$1,000 ahead of Richardson.
“I played on the Asian Tour for 10 over years but in a country exemption category,” said Hsu. “Now I know that I have a chance to play in most of the events. I’m very happy and I feel that I have the skill and experience to play and win on the Asian Tour.”
Richardson is relishing the opportunity of playing on the region’s main Tour after a successful season on the ADT, where he won the PGM ADT Masters at A’Famosa in Melaka.
“I knew I had to play well because some of the guys behind me played really good. I have the confidence and belief that I can play well and be among those guys on the Asian Tour. But I’ll have to prove it next year,” said Richardson.
The ADT Tour has grown from five events at its inception in 2010 to 13 tournaments this year.
With regards to the bad weather last week, ADT tournament director of the Yeangder ADT event, Adnan Othman, said: “The extremely wet conditions made it a challenge for play to continue. As such, we took the decision with the sponsors to reduce the tournament to 54 holes, with the final results taken from the third round.”
Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei was aiming to overcome Lu’s third round 5-shot lead but rain swept the US$120,000 event held at the National Garden Country Club.
With effect from next year, ADT Tour events will carry Official World Golf Ranking points.
— HSU MONG-NAN