Dubai: India’s Rayhan Thomas has broken into the top 500 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings after an impressive run of results in the Mena Tour this season.

The 16-year-old Dubai-based prodigy, who has topped the amateur division in all the three events he’s played so far this season, has climbed to 464th position in the world after last week’s MahaSamutr Masters at Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.

In the Official World Golf Ranking, led by Jason Day of Australia, Thomas has risen to 1,050th place from 1,244, thanks to his tied 14th, second and third-place finishes overall, a creditable performance which has overshadowed some of the senior professionals in the field.

The world ranking status, which came into effect at the tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Classic in May this season, has ratcheted up the already intensive competition on the tour, which started in 2011.

Thomas had his chance to become the first amateur to win a Mena Tour event, but fell just three shots shy of the title at the Mountain Creek despite closing with a six-under 66 that matched his career-best score set at last year’s Dubai Creek Open where he narrowly lost in a playoff.

“My biggest takeaway from these three tournaments is an increased confidence in my ability to play golf at any level,” said Thomas, who has also consolidated his lead in the tour’s Order of Merit for amateurs. “I am improving with every tournament and that makes me feel proud.

“Playing alongside some of the top professionals on the Mena Tour was a great experience. I know I can play well at this level,” the Kerala native added.

Meanwhile, Antonio Costa has broken into the top three on the MENA Golf Tour’s Order of Merit after his convincing wire-to-wire win in last week’s MahaSamutr Masters.

The 27-year-old Chilean, who took a record six-shot lead into the final round, closed with a 68 to seal a three-shot victory, his first on the tour, moving him to 1,050th position on the Official World Golf Ranking from 1,780.

With US$14,187 (Dh52,096) in earnings from the first six events, highlighted by two top-10s and a first, Costa sits just behind the English duo of Zane Scotland ($25,734) and Andrew Marshall ($16,172) after the tour’s maiden voyage to Thailand.

Order of Merit standings after the MahaSamutr Masters, the sixth event on the MENA Golf Tour this season:

Professionals

1. Zane Scotland (England) — $25,734

2. Andrew Marshall (England) — $16,172

3. Antonio Costa (Chile) — $14,187

4. Wolmer Murillo (Venezuela) — $11,400

5. David Law (Scotland) — $9,000

Amateurs

1. Rayhan Thomas (India) — 133 points

2. Benjamin David (England) — 55

3. Ben Alexander (Scotland) — 53

4. Yassine Touhami (Morocco) — 52

5. Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng (Thailand) — 43