SHAABAN HAS FIGHTING CHANCE FOR TOUR CARD

SHAABAN Hussin’s career-best finish at the recently concluded Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open has given him a fighting chance to earn full playing privileges on the Asian Tour next season.
The slender Malaysian finished second behind winner Marcus Both of Australia in Siem Reap on Sunday where a cheque of US$32,550 took him up to 65th place on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, the cut-off mark for players to earn a Tour card for 2010.
With next week’s King’s Cup in Thailand being the last tournament of the season, Shaaban knows there is everything to play for at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club, Khon Kaen which is north east of Bangkok.
The King’s Cup, which will make its debut on the Asian Tour, will prove to be a test of nerves for many players who are hovering around the top-65 bubble. A good finish will see them rejoicing while failure to break into the elite bracket will mean a dreaded trip to Qualifying School.
Australia’s Matthew Griffin, with earnings of US$51,298, sits one rung above Shaaban by a little over US$280 while below Shaaban include the likes of Taichiro Kiyota of Japan, Indian veteran Gaurav Ghei and Australia’s Mitchell Brown, who all held full playing rights on the Asian Tour this season.
Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol (71st), Artemio Murakami of the Philippines (73nd) and Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk (74th) are also desperately fighting for the cards.
One man who heaved a sigh of relief was India’s Shiv Kapur, who achieved his mission of securing his card in Cambodia by finishing tied third. Starting the week, he was lying in 69th place but moved up to 57th position with US$63,232.
South African Jbe Kruger also gave himself some breathing space where his equal ninth finish saw him move from 66th to 62nd position with winnings of US$54,685.
While Shaaban has given himself a lifeline for next season, he was still kicking himself for not winning in Cambodia which would have come with a two-year winner’s exemption.
He trailed Both by two shots with two holes remaining and gave himself a chance with a birdie on 17. But after finding the fairway bunker on the 18th hole, his hopes of tying Both and forcing a play-off evaporated.
“I am really disappointed with my finish because I really gave it my all. Even though I finished second, deep down inside, I feel that I am a winner. This is my best finish on the Asian Tour and I think if I can continue to push like I did this week, my maiden title will come soon enough,” said Shaaban.
This season, he has shown glimpses of his true potential on the Asian Tour. The former Malaysian amateur star finished top-10 at the Brunei Open and was tied 11th at the following week’s Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters on home soil.
“I have been in contention several times now and I am feeling more confident with my game and handling the pressure,” said Shaaban.
Thai star Thongchai Jaidee has already wrapped up an unprecedented third Order of Merit crown with his unassailable earnings of US$976,693 while Liang Wen-chong of China will end the season in second place where he is currently on US$779,580. Both players will headline the King’s Cup which tees off from December 3-6, 2009.