Bangkok, Thailand, November 28: Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wei-chih is aiming for a good result that will give his merit standings a huge boost when he tees off for the Queen’s Cup hosted by Jaidee Foundation on Thursday.

With the Asian Tour heading into an exciting climax to the season, Lu will be among the bubble boys fighting to keep their cards at the US$500,000 event which is held at the Legacy Golf Club for the first time since it was inaugurated as an Asian Tour event in 2009.

Lu, a four-time Asian Tour winner, earned a two-year winner’s exemption through his win at the 2016 Mercuries Taiwan Masters. He will need a strong performance to ensure he continues to keep his card for the 2019 season. While he understands the importance of the week, Lu also knows he has to stay patient to take on the strong challenge from the local contingent led by defending champion Jazz Janewattananond.

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, whose name translates to “Diamond”, is heartened to be back home after plying his trade on European soil for majority of the season. The Thai prodigy, who is also along the cut-off line, hopes to sparkle at the event hosted by his mentor Thongchai Jaidee.

Phachara enjoyed a stellar season in 2017 where he secured four top-five finishes including three runner-up finishes to take a career-high third place on the Asian Tour money ranks. He will bank on his experience of playing in Europe, to give him a final push and secure his spot for next season.

Australia’s Andrew Martin, who earned his Asian Tour card for the first time through Qualifying School this year, is also itching for a breakthrough victory to leave his mark on the Asian Tour.

Juggling between playing on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, Martin, who is ranked 67th on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, will put his fatigue aside as he attempts to break into the top-60.

The top-60 players on the final Habitat for Humanity Standings will automatically retain their cards for next year.

Thongchai, who has hosted three successful events on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), will assume responsibility of tournament host for the first time on the Asian Tour with the intention of drawing attention to the Jaidee Foundation.

Did you know?

·       Lu Wei-chih is ranked 57th on the Habitat for Humanity Standings with a current haul of $72,608.

·       Lu is one of the three Chinese Taipei players in the top-60 on the merit standings after Lin Wen-tang in 47th place and Hung Chien-yao in 50th.

·       Lu’s highest finish on the money list since plying his trade on the Asian Tour in 2004 was in 2011 when he enjoyed two wins on home soil that led him to a career-high ninth place.

·       Lu underwent a brain surgery in 2012 and returned to action in 2013 where he only missed one cut in his nine starts.

·       Phachara Khongwatmai currently sits in 54th place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.

·       Phachara finished a career-high third place on the Merit standings in 2017, thanks to four top-five finishes which include three runner-up results.

·       The Thai grabbed the last Asian Tour card on offer in 2015 when he won the season-ending Asian Development Tour (ADT) event to take the fifth spot on the ADT Order of Merit.

·       Andrew Martin came through Asian Tour Qualifying School this year after finishing tied-20th at the final stage.

·       Martin currently sits in 67th place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings with a current haul of US$55,726.

·       Playing in his first full year on the Asian Tour, the Australian has recorded two top-10 finishes, including a tied-fifth finish at the Asia-Pacific Classic in May.

·       Martin joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2006 and he grew up playing and practicing with fast-rising Australian star Lucas Herbert at Neangar Park Golf Club in Bendigo, Australia.

Players’ Quotes:

Lu Wei-Chih (Tpe)

I am obviously nervous about my position on the Habitat for Humanity Standings but I am trying not to think too much about the results and just concentrate on doing my best. I will do what I need to do this week and let the results take care of itself.

I remembered being in a similar position three years ago and I also told myself not to think too much and just focus on the task ahead. I didn’t play too well at the start of the year but I performed slightly better in the second half of the season.

I finished in the top-10 in two of the events at home but didn’t play too well after that. I missed the cut in Hong Kong by one and I only have two events left to things around. But I have learnt that the more pressure you put on yourself the more you are likely to be affected and not do well.

Phachara Khongwatmai (Tha)

I have not been playing much on the Asian Tour because I have been playing mostly in Europe. Right now I am  around the cut-off point on the Habitat for Humanity Standings but I know that if I just stay consistent in these last couple of events, I am confident of keeping my card.

It has been a year of new experiences and learning how to adapt to different conditions. It was tough having to switch from different weather conditions and playing ondifferent grass. The competition is stiff in Europe and I struggled to do well so I was not able to keep my card on the European Tour.

I am excited to be playing in an event at home, especially since Thongchai (Jaidee) is hosting this event. When I played in Europe this year, I would stay with Thongchai a lot and he was my mentor on Tour. I really respect him and the Queen’s Cup is huge event for most Thais, so I hope to do well this week.

Andrew Martin (Aus)

It’s been a full schedule for me this year and I’m pretty happy with my season. I have been playing pretty consistently and there are a couple of important weeks coming up especially with where I stand right now on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.

It was my goal at the start of the year to finish in the top-60 on the Asian Tour. It would open a lot of doors for me next year just to have a full card again.

The field is strong in Asia with so many great golfers and all the courses I’ve played this year have been in such great condition.

A breakthrough win is definitely on my mind and it would cap off a good year. The game is feeling good and this is the most number of events I have played in a single season since coming through Qualifying School. I think that is why I have been so consistent this year because I am playing week in week out.