Thailands Lao Pakdee Successfully Defends Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in New Zealand

Tomarata, New Zealand, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Thai golfer Lao Pakdee showcased an impressive performance at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, successfully defending his title on Sunday in Tomarata, New Zealand. Competing at the Te Arai Links’ South Course, Pakdee finished with a total score of 6-under 278, outpacing New Zealand’s Jack Swanwick by three strokes.

While Indian players Anshul Mishra, Arkesh Bhatia, and Ribhav Verma fell short of making the cut, they remain optimistic about returning for next year’s tournament in Vietnam.

This victory marks a significant achievement for Pakdee, who joins the ranks of Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, as one of the few players to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in consecutive years. Matsuyama won the title in 2010 and 2011.

With this win, Pakdee has earned an invitation to the 2027 Masters Tournament and secured a direct entry to the 155th Open Championship at St. Andrews. Earlier this year, he made his debut in major tournaments at Augusta National Golf Club and Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

Starting the final round with Cooper Moore, Pakdee was two strokes behind Swanwick. After losing two strokes in the first eight holes, he rallied with a stellar performance on the final ten holes, finishing with three birdies on the 9th, 11th, and 17th holes to reach his winning score.

A pivotal moment occurred on the 11th hole, where Pakdee capitalized on Swanwick’s misfortune. While Pakdee made a birdie, Swanwick struggled, resulting in a triple bogey that allowed Pakdee to regain a two-stroke lead.

Swanwick had maintained the lead for three rounds, starting the week with a score of four over par for 15 holes. However, he rebounded over the next 39 holes with an impressive 11 under par. Despite scoring 75 in the final round, Swanwick secured second place with a birdie on the 18th hole, marking the best performance by a New Zealand player in the championship’s 17-year history.

Pakdee opened the championship with a remarkable 8-under 63, including an eagle from 83 yards on the 9th hole and another impressive shot on the 15th that led to an easy birdie.

Australia’s Kayun Mudadana finished third with a score of 2-under 282 in the final round, while Moore followed closely behind in fourth at 1-under 283. New Zealand’s Ryan Gee rounded out the top five with an even-par score of 284. The 2027 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is scheduled to take place from October 28 to 31 at the Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Hoi An, Vietnam.