Shiv Kapur's terrific run in recent weeks, including a second place finish at the Double A International, has propelled the rookie to the 17th spot on the Asian Order of Merit.
The Indian golfer has had a series of top-10 finishes but squandered an opportunity to take the title at Andrews Hill Golf Club on Sunday when he lost in the play-off to a 17-year-old Thai amateur, Chinarat Phadsungil, at the US $300,000 Double A International.
The 23-year-old has earned more than US $85,000 in his last six starts and his exploits last week fetched him US $47,250, his highest cheque yet.
It was the second successive week that an Indian finished second on the Asian tour after Gaurav Ghei at the Hero Honda Indian Open.
With US $114,503 in 18 starts this season, Kapur is the third highest ranked Indian on the Asian Order of Merit after Jyoti Randhawa (third) and Jeev Milkha Singh (15th).
Wiratchant has earned US $451,920 with 23 starts and holds the top spot ahead of Thongchai Jaidee, third at Double A International, who is at US $386,120 in 10 starts.
Five Indians -- Randhawa, Jeev, Kapur, Ghei (43rd) and Harmeet Kahlon (44th) -- are in the top-60 and assured of a berth in the year-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok in December.
A couple of other Indians like Amandeep Johl (62nd), Ashok Kumar (70th) and Rahil Gangjee (85th) are also in with a a chance of making it.
In his last six appearances, Kapur has finished in the top-10 five times.
Meanwhile, Harmeet Kahlon picked up his best cheque of the year with his fourth place finish at the Double A International.
There is another full-field Asian Tour event, the Vietnam Masters, and two joint sanctioned events -- Volvo China Open and UBS Hong Kong Open -- left in the season.
