By IANS
Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) : None of the 13 Indians who teed up at the Asian Tour final Qualifying School was able to earn a full card for playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2008. Of the 13 Indians who started, only three made the halfway cut and they, too, finished way down.
A total of 46 players earned their full playing rights on the Asian Tour for next year. They will join the top-60, past winners and other exempt players for the 2008 Tour.
Malaysia’s Ben Leong retained his full playing rights on the Asian Tour for the second straight year after a closing 70 gave him an 18-under-par 270 and a three-stroke win over fellow compatriot Steven Tan at the Sabah Golf and Country Club on Saturday.
Leong, who also took top honours at the Final Stage Qualifiers in Thailand last year, marked his return to the Asian Tour when he orchestrated a blemish-free round highlighted by two birdies at his home course.
India’s best finisher was Harmeet Kahlon (75-68-76-68) in tied 69th place while Chiragh Kumar (70-73-75-73) was 91st and Naman Dawar (68-71-77-77), who was 10th after first round finished with rounds of 77 each on last days and ended 101st. Earlier 10 Indians missed the cut.
The Indian players who have a full card on Asian Tour are Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Gaurav Ghei, Shiv Kapur, SSP Chowrasia and Rahil Gangjee. These players retain their players by virtue of winning titles in past two years while Kapur, Gangjee and Chowrasia finished in top-60 of the Tour this year. Seven other Indians will have country exemptions.
Malaysia’s Steven Tan, who trailed Leong by two shots at the start of the final round failed to keep up the pressure on Leong for the lead when he made three costly birdies in his opening back-end to close on 71 for a 273 to finish in second place.
Australia’s Rick Kulacz fired a closing 68 to finish third on 274 while China’s Shang Lei’s 275 earned him fourth place together with full playing rights for next year.