Jeev hopes to be the Birdie Leader after Incheon

Incheon, May 4 (UNI) Apart from repeating his Volvo China Open triumph, Jeev Milkha Singh will have another motivation as he tees off in the SK Telecom Open here today.

Leader of the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, Jeev is presently ranked second on the Birdie Leader category after 11 events this season and with low scoring expected at SK Telecom Open, the Indian pro could well be challenging for honours again.

Jeev won the Volvo China Open last month to end a seven-year title drought and it was helped by his ability to strike birdies when he needed to. Up till last week, Jeev has produced 139 birdies from 10 starts, averaging 4.09 birdies per round.

The birdie leader honour is presently held by the sweet swinging Thai Prayad Marksaeng, who has shot one more birdie than Jeev.

Shiv Kapur, last season's rookie of the year, is third with a total of 135 birdies while last year's Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand is fourth with 132 birdies. Last season, Thaworn also won the Birdie Leader category.

The list also includes Amandeep Johl (118) at eighth and Gaurav Ghei (117) at ninth places while Rahil Gangjee (111) shares 11th position with Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand.

Andrew Buckle, the exciting Australian, holds the highest birdie average with 4.38 birdies per round.

Birdie Leader after GS Caltex Maekyung Open (top 10): 1. Prayad Marksaeng, Tha (140); 2. Jeev Milkha Singh, IND (139); 3. Shiv Kapur, IND (135); 4. Thaworn Wiratchant, THA 132; 5. Unho Park, AUS (127); 6. Scott Strange, AUS (126); 7 Prom Meesawat, THA (124); 8. Amandeep Johl, IND (118); 9. Gaurav Ghei, IND (117); 10 Charlie Wi, KOR (116).

UNI XC AY VV1555