RICHARD Bland further enhanced his chances nailing down a place in the European Tour’s Final Series with a top-20 finish in the Hong Kong Open.
The Stoneham pro maintained his fine run of form in Fanling, finishing six-under for the tournament after rounds of 70 (level par), 65, 70 and 69 to tie for 15th.
The 41-year-old added close to 14,000 euros to his season’s tally to hold firm in the Race to Dubai standings in 69th position with earnings of 383,000 euros.
The event was won by Australia’s Scott Hend on -13.
Bland plays in this week’s Perth International in Australia before the The Final Series – consisting of four big-money tournaments, culminating in the DP World Tour Championship, in Dubai – gets under way in China next week with the BMW Masters.
Next up is the WGC HSBC Champions, also held in China, before the Turkish Airlines Open in mid-November and the season ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the following week.
Bland, whose best ever finish on the money list was 65th in 2010, is looking good to tee it up in the BMW Masters and the Turkish Airlines Open, although he is not in the select field for the WGC event in China.
But if he can continue his impressive campaign he’s every chance of forcing his way into the top 60 in the order of merit – a position that would earn a spot in Dubai.
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