Five Indians in top-10 of Asian Tour Order of Merit

New Delhi: Indian professional golfers are currently ruling the roost on the Asian Tour Order of Merit

with as many as five Indians placed inside the top-10, thanks to their exceptional performances in the first quarter of the 2011 season. SSP Chowrasia maintains his stranglehold on the Order of Merit where he has a comfortable lead with a earnings of USD 410,077. Chowrasia won the prestigious Avantha Masters on home soil in February and followed that up with a tied 12th finish at the Panasonic Open last week. Sujjan Singh sits in second place with earnings of USD 97,326. Sujjan came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School this year and thereafter made a major impact with a tied fifth finish at the Avantha Masters and a tied 19th result at the Panasonic Open. Anirban Lahiri fulfilled his potential as one of India`s rising stars when he won the Panasonic Open by defeating countryman Manav Jaini and Singaporean veteran Mardan Mamat in a three-way play-off at the Delhi Golf Club last week. The 23-year-old`s maiden international triumph pushed him up to fifth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with a season haul of USD 57,720. Shiv Kapur lies in seventh position on the Order of Merit with earnings of USD 51,538, courtesy a tied ninth finish at the Avantha Masters. Manav Jaini has produced two brilliant performances this season to occupy the 10th place. Jaini, who claimed tied third position at the Indian Open last year, was the joint runner-up at the recently concluded Panasonic Open and also secured fourth place at the SAIL Open last month. PTI