KUALA LUMPUR: Golfer Shahriffuddin Ariffin is ready to take his career to greater heights after finally qualifying for the Asian Tour.
The 23-year-old will join veterans Ben Leong and Nicholas Fung in flying Malaysia's flag on the region's premier circuit next year after finishing a creditable fourth in the Order of Merit in this year's second-tier Asian Development Tour. Only the top 10 money leaders get rewarded with a Tour card.
Although missing the cut at the season-ending Taifong Open in Taiwan last week, Shahriffuddin still finished inside the top 10 with earnings of US$51,890 (RM229,600) after posting a victory and four top-10 finishes this season.
His two best results were winning the PKNS Selangor Masters last month and second place at the Laguna Phuket Cup in Thailand in May.
"I'm so happy to earn an Asian Tour card for the first time after many years of trying to get in through via the ADT or Qualifying School (Q-School)," said Shahrrifuddin.
"In the past, I would need to get lucky to secure a start or two on the Asian Tour, but not anymore as the exemption status I have now should gain me into most of the tournaments."
The other Malaysians who finished in the top 25 on the ADT final Order of Merit list were Sea Games gold medallist Ervin Chang (15th), Paul San (18th) and Amir Nazrin Jailani (23rd).