Now that he's at the summit of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, India's Anirban Lahiri intends to stay there until the end of the 2014 season.
The 26-year-old claimed a stunning victory at the Indonesian Masters Sunday after producing a superb eagle on the 72nd which raised his season's earnings to $192,150.
Although it is early days yet, getting to the top of the Merit list was satisfying for Lahiri, whose world ranking also rose to a career high 67th after he collected 20 points for his fourth Asian Tour success and first outside India.
Since joining the tour in 2008, the Indian has enjoyed a meteoric rise where he won three titles on home soil before Sunday's win. Lahiri knew it was only a matter of time before he won a tournament abroad and when he did, he achieved it in emphatic fashion.
After holing a sensational eagle putt in fading light at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club to pip Baek Seuk-hyun of Korea and Australia's Cameron Smith by one shot, an excited Lahiri clenched his fists and celebrated wildly with his caddy and playing partner Rashid Khan of India.
"It feels great to be top on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. One of my goals at the beginning of this year was to contend for the Order of Merit. I am glad I got off to a good start. I just have to keep focusing on playing good golf and keep getting better as the year progresses," said Lahiri, who is getting married next month to long-time girlfriend Ipsa Jamwal.
"I needed the world ranking points so I am really happy I won. I played much better than my score. I hit the ball well all week. I played really solid and this victory means a lot to me."
Swede Rikard Karlberg, who missed the halfway cut in Indonesia, dropped a spot to second with earnings of $119,450 while Canadian Richard T. Lee, winner of the Solaire Open in the Philippines, is third on $88,808.
Rashid, who won the season-opening SAIL-SBI Open at home, is fourth with $75,687 after finishing a creditable ninth in Indonesia.
Baek agonisingly missed out on his first Asian Tour victory after finishing tied second behind Lahiri but the result moved him up to fifth place with $68,359.
Smith's joint second outing in Indonesia moved the Aussie up to sixth with $64,875, which should be enough to secure his card for next season.
The Asian Tour travels to $1.5 million The Championship in Singapore this week to be played at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club from Thursday.
Asian Tour Order of Merit Top-10
1. Anirban LAHIRI (IND) $192,150
2. Rikard KARLBERG (SWE) $119,450
3. Richard T. LEE (CAN) $88,808
4. Rashid KHAN (IND) $75,687
5. BAEK Seuk-hyun(KOR) $68,359
6. Cameron SMITH (AUS) $64,875
7. S.S.P CHOWRASIA (IND) $58,695
8. Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $54,111
9. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) $51,643
10. Carlos PIGEM (ESP) $50,530
