Noh to be crowned Asia’s youngest-ever number one

Korean teen star Noh Seung-Yul is to be crowned the youngest ever winner of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit after rival Marcus Fraser failed to narrow the gap at the UBS Hong Kong Open on Sunday.

Australia’s Fraser battled to a 10th place finish at the 2.5 million US dollar event, with a cheque of $50,000 raising his season’s tally to $608,766 against Noh’s $822,361.

Fraser has committed only to the season-ending Black Mountain Masters in Thailand next month, meaning he cannot catch 19-year-old Noh, who will officially be named Asian Tour number one on December 19.

Third-ranked Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, who missed the cut in Hong Kong having already amassed $396,732 this season, will not be able to overhaul Noh even if he wins the remaining four events on the Asian Tour.

“If I become the youngest Asian Tour number one, it’s nice. But in the future, there may be other young players who will become younger than me at 19 years and five months,” Noh said modestly after ending his Hong Kong campaign with a 67 for tied 31st place.

Noh had been hesitant in committing to the remaining events on the Asian Tour as he is scheduled to undergo corrective laser eye surgery. But with an unassailable lead, he will undergo the procedure next month, taking six weeks to recuperate.

“I was happy to win the Malaysian Open this year,” he said. “It allowed me to compete in Europe, the US and also the three Majors. It started from my win in Malaysia. The event was good for me.”

Fraser, winner of the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea in April, lamented his bad luck as he chased a top-five finish, which would have kept his Merit hopes alive.

“I played great on the front nine and made nothing. I don’t know how many I missed. I missed short ones on the first three and lipped out on the fourth. I left it on the edge on six and then lipped out on nine,” said Fraser.

“My goal was to get into the top five and I knew I had to shoot 61 or 62, which was doable out there. I needed a fast start but didn’t do it, which is a shame as I played great.”

Fraser hailed Noh as a great champion.

“Everyone knew it was going to happen,” he said. “Noh Seung-Yul was always going to fly away with the Order of Merit title.

“He’s a great player and I enjoyed watching him play in practice rounds. The Asian Tour is lucky to have him on the money list,” said Fraser.

“I will maintain my minimum events on the Asian Tour next year. It’s good fun and I’ll be back. I’ll play in the Black Mountain Masters next month and it would be nice to win there.”