Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand came through a playoff against Japan’s Taisei Nagasaki at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai to become the first Thai winner of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC).
Laopakdee and Nagasaki tied through 72 holes on 15-under-par meaning extra holes were required to decide the result of the competition.
On the first extra hole – the par-5 18th at Emirates GC, Nagasaki laid up with his second while Laopakdee played a strong second shot through the green. Both men got up-and-down for birdie.
With the win Laopakdee, an Arizona State player, will start in next year’s Masters and The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
“I stuck to the plan I created at the beginning of the week,” he said. “I’ve just gone shot by shot and enjoyed it with my caddy. I had an amazing battle with Taisei. It’s unreal to play in The Masters and The Open. I will be the first Thai amateur player in The Masters. I can’t believe it.”
Japan’s Taisei Nagasaki started the final round with a five-shot lead having set the tournament scoring record for 54-holes at 17-under.
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