Taiwan's golfers have hit a rough patch on the Asian PGA tour, failing to make an impression so far this season.
While South Korea's Charlie Wi managed to improve his position to number two in the Asian PGA tour Order of Merit with his successful defense of the South Korea Telecom Open last Sunday, Wang Ter-chang (汪德昌) was the country's best-placed finisher in 20th position.
The 39-year-old, who has been playing professionally for 17 years, cleared US$4,614 for the long-weekend of work, but must improve if he is to do better than last season, when he was 25th on the Order of Merit with winnings of US$53,147. Presently he is 42nd on the money list with US$14, 109.
Yeh Wei-tze (葉偉志) is ahead of him in 29th position in the Order of Merit, with total winnings so far of US$21,591.
Chen Yuan-chi (陳元車) managed a 32nd-place finish in South Korea, pulling in US$3,177.
The 30-year-old, who turned professional seven years ago, had his best season ever last year.
He finished in the top-60 on the Asian PGA Order of Merit for the first time and missed just two cuts in nine starts to earn US$25,862.
He also tied for seventh place in the Mercuries Masters on home turf and hit headlines all round the world when he beat Tiger Woods in an 18-hole exhibition match at Mission Hills Golf Club in China.
Compatriot Hsieh Yu-shu (謝玉樹) was 39th in South Korea on the Lakeside Country Club course and earned himself US$2,496.
The US$68,079 Wi won in South Korea moved him up from 18th position and took his earnings so far this year to US$96,320.
Wi was one stroke behind Australian Kim Felton with three holes to play on Sunday in South Korea, but birdied the 16th and 18th holes to claim his fifth victory on the Asian PGA tour.
The 30-year-old won the SK Telecom Open last year at Il Dong Lake Country Club after a seven-hole playoff and went on to finish second on the Merit list behind Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee.
India's Arjun Atwal was competing at the Spanish Open last week, but still leads the Asian PGA tour list with winnings of US$173,189.
The Asian PGA tour stays in Korea this week for the Maekyung LG Fashion Open at Nam Seoul Country Club, where Korean Choi Gwang-soo is the defending champion.
RSS