Rising star Fifa Laopakdee rewrote a slice of golf history when he became the first player from Thailand to sensationally win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Sunday, earning coveted invitations to the Masters Tournament and The Open next year.

The 20-year-old junior from Arizona State University produced a stunning comeback from six shots down going into the final round at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course to defeat 54-hole leader Taisei Nagasaki of Japan with a birdie in the third play-off hole.

“It’s unreal. I think I told my (ASU) coach Matt Thurmond I’ll be the first Thai to win this event and be the first Thai amateur to play in the Masters. Coach, I did it! It means the whole world to me,” said a jubilant Laopakdee as he was drenched by his teammates on greenside after his victory.

It was heartbreak hotel for the 16-year-old Nagasaki, making his debut in the Championship, as his overnight advantage quickly disappeared with an outward 3-over 38. After being caught by Laopakdee on the 15th hole, the young Japanese produced some fight with birdies on 16 and 17 to regain a one-shot lead. However, he agonizingly missed a four-foot birdie chance on the par-5, 18th hole in regulation for a victory.

“I’m very disappointed with myself. Really struggled to make a score today. Feel disappointed,” said a tearful Nagasaki through a translator.
Laopakdee, whose nickname was given by his football-crazed father, had spoken earlier about how Tiger Woods, who is half-Thai and a winner on the Majlis course, is an idol and inspiration to many young golfers back home such as himself.

The Thai youngster produced a Woods-like comeback on the back nine, shooting a spectacular inward 5-under 32 to tie a faltering Nagasaki and force extra time. After both players shot matching birdies on the 18thand 17th holes, the talented Thai took advantage of a lucky break with his approach shot into the 18th hole which stayed on land and chipped it close for his winning birdie while Nagasaki made par.

“After I finished 18 (in regulation), I didn’t realise I shot 5-under on the back nine and laughed with my caddie,” said Laopakdee, who tied the second largest comeback in the Championship history to win.

“I stick to the mindset at the start of the week, stay in the present and have fun out there with my caddie, and enjoy the golf. Shot by shot, hole by hole and I’m proud I did all that on the back nine especially. Shoutout to Taisei as he made my life so hard. It was a pretty amazing battle between me, him and Rintaro (Nakano). Speechless.”

Nakano, who finished third last year in Japan, finished solo third after a closing 71 to finish two shots outside the playoff duo, while Australia’s Harry Takis was fourth after a 70. Le Khanh Hung registered Vietnam’s best finish in the Championship with a tied fifth after signing off with a 71.

Since the event’s inauguration in 2009, only players from China, Japan, Korea and Australia have won the Asia-Pacific Amateur, with Laopakdee changing it all with a comeback from the ages.

Malaysia’s Anson Yeo brilliantly produced a nine-shot improvement with a solid 4-under 68 to safely make his fourth successive cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Friday.

After struggling with an opening 77 in the region’s premier amateur Championship, the 19-year-old Yeo took advantage of ideal conditions to hit five birdies against a lone bogey at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course to lead compatriots Zubair Firdaus (74), Hariz Hezri (70) and Farez Azihan (73) safely into the weekend rounds.

Debutant Joshua Lim, who opened with a 72 on Thursday, stands at 1-under through nine holes of his second round while Zia Iqmal Abdul Rashid was 4-over through 11 holes, one stroke above the projected cut line with the second round still being played at press time.
Japan’s Taiseh Nagasaki fired a second successive 67 to seize the clubhouse lead on 10-under 134 , in a Championship which rewards the winner with coveted invitations into the Masters Tournament and The Open next year.

Yeo will enter the third round at 1-under, and he will be fired up to maintain his momentum in the magnificent Majlis course, which hosts the annual Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour where past champions include Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy.

Starting from the 10th tee, Yeo was delighted with his bounce back, which also marked his lowest score in the Championship in what was his 14thround.
“Yesterday afternoon was very windy and I also played badly,” said Yeo.

“This morning had less wind and I didn’t change my game plan, I was more confident and happy to shoot 4-under. Everything worked out quite well. I could have gone low on the back nine but I missed some chances, couldn’t make the putts and just kept lipping some holes,” said Yeo, who is the highest-ranked Malaysian amateur in the field.

He hopes to inch his way up the leaderboard to improve on his career-best finish of T29 in his debut in 2022. “The goal will be to get to red figures. I’ll stick to the game plan, and play with more confidence especially with my putter and trusting the lines,” said Anson.

Hariz, 19, produced the next best score amongst the Malaysian hopefuls as he traded five birdies against three dropped shots for his 70. “I had more balance with my swing and had good momentum,” said Hariz, who missed the cut in his previous appearance in 2022.

“I focused one shot at a time, and I was able to keep up with my golf swing and hit it pretty good. My iron play was better than yesterday as I focused on my rhythm. It’s so good to be here, the course is so pure. It’s maybe one of the best golf courses I’ve played in my life.”

Anson Yeo was the best Malaysians again at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Saturday as a third-round of 1-under 71 put him in position to register his career-best finish in four starts.

After a bogey on the fourth hole, the 19-year-old Yeo, whose best outing was a T29 in his debut in 2022, was rock steady before successive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes saw him post a second straight under-par card at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course as he ended the day in joint 26th position on 216.

Zubair Firdaus and Hariz Hasri carded matching 72s for T37 while Farez Azihan returned a 76 to fall back to T51. Joshua Lim and Zia Iqmal Abdul Rashid will enter the final round in a share of 56th place after cards of 79 and 76 respectively.

Japan’s 16-year-old Taiseh Nagasaki fired a blistering 65 to open up a commanding five-shot lead on 17-under 199 ahead of countryman Rintaro Nakano (71), with the winner on Sunday earning invitations to the Masters and The Open next year. Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee (70) is solo third on 11-under.

With six Malaysians featuring in the weekend rounds in the region’s premier amateur Championship, Yeo said the achievement was something to be proud of despite being out of title contention.

“Everyone is happy we all made the cut, except for one player (Maverick Chua) who missed. I’m proud of this achievement. We’re just fighting the golf course and see who plays the best at the end. I’ll aim to go for it tomorrow and shoot as low as possible,” said Yeo.

“My first nine was a struggle. I hit a lot greens but couldn’t make birdies. Coming in, I struggled with the putter but managed to get two. I’ll try to make it to red figures and see where we finish up. First day, I played really badly but I’m proud I fought back yesterday and today. I’m not in contention so I’ll try to achieve my goal of being under-par.”

Zubair said the Malaysian contingent has their own mini tournament running to see who finishes as the best from the country in what is the 16th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur.

“There’s a little competition in the group …. we want to finish as the best Malaysian, but we also have to be very proud that six Malaysians made the cut,” said Zubair.

“I don’t recall the last time we had so many Malaysians qualify for the weekend. I’m very proud that all of us that we could perform at a high level which is an accomplishment,” added the recent Bahrain Amateur Open champion.

Joshua Lim emerged as the leading Malaysian after the first round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship following a battling 72 at the Emirates Golf Club on Thursday.

The 16-year-old Lim made a strong start to his debut appearance in the region’s premier amateur Championship, shooting three birdies in his opening five holes before dropping three shots coming home at the iconic Majlis course, which is the annual host to a DP World Tour event.

Zubair Firdaus returned a 73 to be the next best Malaysian as Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee, Le Khanh Hun of Vietnam and Australian Billy Dowling took the opening day’s honours by shooting matching 66s to set the early pace where this week’s champion will earn invitations to the Masters Tournament and The Open.

It was a bittersweet first appearance in the Championship for Lim as he struggled to cope with the hot and humid conditions in Dubai.

“It was a wonderful experience, I started off really hot, birdie, birdie but towards the end, my focus gave out. This course is a challenging, especially with the winds which played a big factor and I wasn’t used to it. It was also quite hot out there. Hopefully I can improve over the next few rounds. I’m happy I could play a decent round,” said the Sarawakian teenager.

“I’m so happy to have a chance to represent my country and play in this wonderful event. I enjoyed the views, the experience to play on a course that you watch on TV is quite exciting. I’ll need to maintain my tee shots on the fairway and play more conservatively.”

The 23-year-old Zubair, who arrived in Dubai in good form following a victory at the Bahrain Amateur Open earlier this month, endured a mixed bag with three birdies against four bogeys. Zia Iqmal Abdul Rashid started with a 75 while four other Malaysians, Anson Yeo, Maverick Chua, Farez Azihan and Hariz Hezri – were still playing their first rounds at press time.

“It was tough in the afternoon with the winds and I didn’t play my best,” said Zubair, who is making his fourth successive appearance in the Championship. “I caught some fliers from out of the rough and need to drive better to stay on the fairways.”

Le Khanh Hun became the first Vietnamese to hold at least a share of the lead in any round in Championship history after hitting an eagle and four birdies for his stellar 66 as he chases for more glory for his emerging nation in the sport.

Khanh Hung created history for Vietnam by becoming the first male golfer from the country to win the individual gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games in 2023. Last year, he was part of the national team which won the 2024 Nomura Cup on home soil, marking an historic maiden victory in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Team Championship for the emerging golf nation.

In 15 previous editions of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, no Vietnamese has won the prestigious Championship, with Nguyen Anh Minh’s tied seventh finish at Royal Melbourne in 2023 being the best result. This past summer, Anh Minh produced another breakthrough by becoming the first Vietnamese to qualify for the final of the U.S. Junior Amateur.

“It was good. I'm just happy that I stick to my strategy. Didn't get frustrated, I'm happy I was composed,” said Khanh Hun. “I think I believe in my preparation and just a lot of trust in myself. I would say everything is feeling nice out there."