Jeev tops Asian Tour Order of Merit; Shiv, Johl in top 20

Kuala Lumpur, May 16 (UNI) Last month's Volvo China Open winner Jeev Milkha Singh continues to lead the chart, while two other Indians -- Shiv Kapur (13) and Amandeep Johl (17), feature in the top 20 of the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit.

Jeev, who notched up yet another top five finish in the PGA Championship in Japan, continued to head the pack with 442,526 dollar.

Shiv, who finished 70th in the British Masters, hangs on the 13th spot with 130,407 dollar while seasoned Johl is 17th with 102,739 dollar.

Korean Charlie Wi is in second with 329,758 dollar while Aussie ace Andrew Buckle is third with 280,212 dollar.

Meanwhile, South African Hendrik Buhrmann has jumped to 21st place in the list on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit after his maiden triumph in the region.

The 42-year-old broke through at the inaugural Aamby Valley Asian Masters in India with a two-stroke victory, walking away with the winner's cheque of 63,400 dollar which raised his season's eannings to 90,735 which is already his highest since 2000.

Buhrmann cherishes his Indian experience and was in fact a whisker away from a win last year before finishing third at the Hero Honda Indian Open.

''To do in India is great. I finished third in the Indian Open last year, where I had a chance to win where I was right up there on the back nine. I also like the food, the people. I'm so happy. I nearly didn't play in Aamby Valley but Louis Martin (the Asian Tour Chief Executive) convinced me to come and said it was a beautiful place. I'm glad I listened to him,'' said the Indophile golfer.

''The biggest thing is like what Jeev said earlier this year.

I've finished second so many times now that we say so what. We must try less and I started enjoying it. I tried to keep a conscience attitude and kept my emotions to myself as I'm an emotional person and can go up and down easily,'' said Buhrmann, considered one of the wittiest players on Tour.

UBS Order of Merit (Top 20) 1. Jeev Milkha Singh, India (442,526) 2. Charlie Wi, Korea (329,758) 3. Andrew Buckle, Australia (280,212) 4. Simon Dyson, England (269,265) 5. Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand (217,222) 6. Prom Meesawat, Thailand (206,192) 7. Prayad Marksayeng, Thailand (177,777) 8.

Mardan Mamat, Singapore (174,382) 9. Tadahiro Takayama, Japan (173,460) 10. Wang Ter-chang, Chinese Taipei (141,788) 11. Jarrod Lyle, Australia (136,270) 12. Thaworn Wiratchant, Thailand (131,299) 13. Shiv Kapur, India (130,407) 14. Suk Jong-ryul, Korea (125,000) 15. Terry Pilkadaris, Australia (118,370) 16. Scott Strange, Australia (107,154) 17. Amandeep Johl, India (102,739) 18. Chapchai Nirat, Thailand (101,637) 19. Bryan Saltus, USA (93,296) 20. Mahal Pearce, New Zealand (91,625) UNI XC AY PDS RN1404