Three-Way Tie In Asia Pacific Amateur Championship After Day 1

Three players fired excellent opening rounds of 66 to lead the 16th Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Emirates Golf Club.

Billy Dowling of Australia
(Image credit: AAC)

Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand, Billy Dowling of Australia and Vietnam’s Khanh Le Hung lead the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai after the opening round.

Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee was among the early starters and he came charging out of the blocks with three birdies in his first four holes.

Australia’s Billy Dowling followed Laopakdee in, also with a 66. The 20-year-old is playing in his third AAC. On home soil at Royal Melbourne in 2023, he was in second spot through 54 holes before fading to finish 10th.

Dowling, who finished runner-up in this year’s Scottish Amateur Championship, made eight birdies in a scintillating round. He finished with a three at the difficult ninth hole to finish six-under.

“I putted well and really got on with my caddy today,” he said. “It’s special to play well somewhere big names haave competed and won.”

Vietnam’s Khanh Hung Le was the third player to post a 66. Aged just 17 Hung Le has committed to play for the University of Illinois.

“It was good,” he said. “I stuck to my gameplan and didn’t get frustrated.”

Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand

(Image credit: AAC)

Japan’s Rintaro Nakano, another of the pre-tournament favourites, made a strong start to his campaign. Carding four birdies, an eagle on the 13th and just one dropped shot, The Japanese player who finished in third place on home soil last year finished with five-under-par 67.

Home player Sam Mullane, Australia’s Harry Takis and Japan's Taisei Nagasaki also carded 67s.

The winner of the AAC earns a place in both The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and the 2026 Masters Tournament, plus an exemption for The Amateur Championship, the runner up or runners up gain a place in The Open Qualifying Series and the top-three will receive an exemption into The Amateur Championship

The top prizes are significant and can be life-changing for the individuals who secure them but is trying not to think too far ahead.

“It feels like another tournament,” said Billy Dowling. “It’s my third time and that helps me with the pressure. I’m trying to stay in the moment.”

The AAC was founded in 2009, a joint venture between The R&A, The Masters Tournament and the Asia Pacific Golf Federation. The event has played a significant role in growing the game in the region and around the world.

2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama is a two-time former champion and 2022 Open champion Cam Smith is an alumni of the event. Following the success of the early instalments of the AAC, further elite international amateur tournaments have been founded, including the Latin America Amateur Championship and the Women’s Asia Pacific Championship.

Since 2024 The R&A has also hosted the Africa Amateur Championship and its women’s equivalent.

It was announced this morning that the 17th AAC will take place at the spectacular Te Arai Links South Course in New Zealand.

It will be the second time the championship has been played in New Zealand. Royal Wellington welcomed the event in 2017 when China’s Juxin Lin won the first of his two titles.

The 16th Asia Pacific Amateur Championship is being contested over 72 holes at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, culminating on Sunday.

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.