Struggling for form, Indian golfer SSP Chowrasia lost his top spot in the Asian Tour's Order of Merit, overtaken by Japanese star Tetsuji Hiratsuka following his victory at the just-concluded Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open.

Hiratsuka overhauled Chowrasia, winner of the season-opening Avantha Masters, with his winner's cheque of $384,000 raising his season's tally to $435,817.

Chowrasia, who has earned $410,653 this year, missed the halfway cut in Japan last week to slip back to second position.

South Africa's Jbe Kruger moved up to third place with his equal fourth finish, which took his earnings to $252,817.

Bangladeshi Siddikur dropped back to fourth place on the rankings after finishing 24th with his season's earnings of $238,246 while Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, the only man to win the Merit title three times, remained in fifth position with $175,220.

Jeev Milkha Singh, Asia's number one in 2006 and 2008, continued his surge with a second successive tied fourth finish pushing him up to sixth place on the Order of Merit.