Jake Higginbottom’s unlikely pursuit of a 2019 Asian Tour card continues to gain momentum after the Newcastle native recorded his second consecutive top 20 finish at the Yeangder TPC tournament in Chinese Taipei.

A tie for 18th in last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters saw Higginbottom move up six spots into 75th position on the Habitat for Humanity standings and he was able to move up a further six places this week with a tie for 11th at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

American John Catlin recorded his third win of the season with a two-shot victory with Higginbottom equaling Catlin’s final round of 7-under 65 as the best rounds of the day.

Making the turn in 2-under, Higginbottom went on a tear to start the back nine, recording six birdies in succession from the 10th hole before an untimely bogey at the par-4 16th stalled his impressive momentum.

Given he began the Asian Tour season by missing five cuts in the first six events he contested Higginbottom’s impressive late season form has moved him up to 69th on the Order of Merit and within reach of the top 60 who automatically retain their cards for 2019.

Like Higginbottom, Andrew Martin sits just outside the top 60 on the moneylist, his final round of 69 good enough to end the week in a tie for 14th and 66th on the Habitat for Humanity standings.

It was an eventful Sunday for Martin who recorded four birdies against two bogeys on the front nine, made a double at the par-4 15th and then finished with birdies at 17 and 18.

Victorian Josh Younger and Kiwi Ben Campbell were a further shot back from Martin in a tie for 21st with David Gleeson and New Zealand’s Gareth Paddison tied for 30th with 1-under for the week.

Steven Jeffress (T59) and Matt Stieger (T62) were the other Australians to make the cut.

On the penultimate event of the 2018 PGA Tour-China schedule Max McCardle continues to hold his place inside the top 15 on the Order of Merit with a tie for 16th at the Zhuhai Championship at Orient Golf Club.

Only five players completed the week in red numbers with American Kevin Techakanokboon victorious by a shot from Japan’s Yuwa Kosaihira.

New Zealand’s Nick Voke was in the hunt to record a third consecutive China Tour victory until the rookie pro showed he is human with a Sunday 77, McCardle faring better with four birdies and three bogeys in a final round 1-under 70.

Luke Toomey’s tie for sixth was the best finish of the Australasia contingent, the Kiwi closing out the tournament with three straight birdies to sign for a 3-under 68, the best round of the day.

Kevin Yuan’s 2-over 73 was good enough to finish tied for 24th while DJ Loypur and Sean Underwood were both tied for 42nd with even par rounds of 71.

Jack Munro endured a difficult final round – three double bogeys and two triples in his 11-over 82 – as he finished tied for 56th alongside James Gibellini at 18-over.