Where Amateur dreams become Major glory  07:01, 17/09/2026

At the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the demands are simple but rather unforgiving – produce four rounds and 72 holes of near-perfect golf and the rewards can be a lifetime of memories.

For those who dare to dream and live up to their full promise, the thrill of winning the region’s most prestigious amateur Championship will come with coveted opportunities to compete at the Masters Tournament and The Open.

And with hard work, dedication and some luck, major glory awaits too.

Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand realised his childhood ambition in 2025 following a stunning triumph in Dubai nearly 12 months ago as he rewrote golf history by becoming the first amateur from his nation to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur.

He then rubbed shoulders with the world’s best in the two majors this year and the 21-year-old is now eager to become just the second golfer after Hideki Matsuyama (2010, 2011) to successfully defend his title at Te Arai Links in New Zealand from October 29 to November 1, so he can take those trips down Magnolia Lane again and plan for a visit to St Andrews in 2027.

“It's totally an amazing experience,” Fifa said after his Masters debut.

“It's obviously like a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It's amazing what the AAC has provided for me and for every Asia-Pacific player. They provide huge opportunities that I'm grateful for. I can't wait to go to New Zealand and try to defend my title, and get to do all these things again next year. That will be so cool,” added the Thai, who is now a senior at Arizona State University.

They say golf is a marathon and not a sprint, which proved so for a luckless Taisei Nagasaki of Japan, who opened up a six-shot lead after three rounds in Dubai but faltered at the finish line where he was caught by a fast-closing Fifa. 

The Thai had charged home in five-under 32 for a final round 68 to overcome a six-shot overnight deficit, and then made three successive birdies in the play-off to pip Nagasaki.

“I think all Thai fans have been waiting such a long time for a Thai amateur or Thai pro to compete at the Masters and The Open.  Amazing for me, my parents, Thai fans and for my country,” he said.

It was heartbreak hotel for the now 17-year-old Nagasaki, who had a five-foot birdie putt at the last hole in regulation to win last October. He missed the chance, lost out in extra holes before understandably breaking down in tears as his dreams of competing in the Masters and The Open vanished.

“I’m very disappointed with myself. Really struggled to make a score. Feel disappointed,” said a tearful Nagasaki, who closed with a 74.

The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship returns to New Zealand for only the second time for its 17^th edition, with the stunning Te Arai Links near Auckland playing host to 120 of the region’s finest amateurs from 41 Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation member organisations.

Since its inauguration in 2009, notable past competitors such as Matsuyama, Australian Cameron Smith and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox have gone on to win major titles, proving that the Championship launched by APGC, The R&A and the Masters Tournament has truly become a successful springboard to many rising stars of the game.

Matsuyama became the first Asian to win the Masters in 2021 while Smith won The Open in 2022 and Fox being victorious at The Open as well this July.

“I owe a great debt of gratitude to Augusta National and will be eternally grateful for the opportunity to play in the Masters and helping me reach my dream to play professional golf. Winning the 2010 Asia-Pacific Amateur was life-changing for me,” said Matsuyama, now the winningest Asian golfer with 11 PGA Tour victories.

Fox also paid tribute to the Asia-Pacific Amateur for shaping his amateur career. 

“It’s a chance to live out your dream as an amateur and that’s pretty cool, It was certainly important in my development as a player, and I know a lot of guys from our neck of the woods have felt the same over the years…It’s had a great variety of winners and a lot of impact around the Asia-Pacific region,” said the Kiwi star, whose home course is Te Arai Links.

After enjoying two rounds at Augusta National with former Masters champion Fred Couples and Australian star Min Woo Lee, Fifa couldn’t help but appreciate the opportunity to learn from the very best as he continues with his golf journey.

“If you give me an hour, I can write 100 bullet points what I learned this week,” said Fifa after he missed the halfway cut at the Masters. “(AAC) It's great pathway and great tournament for all of us to show the world that there are great players in Asia-Pacific.”

Vietnam’s No. 1 amateur golfer Nguyen Anh Minh will spearhead a strong four-man team, with the goal of delivering the nation’s first title in the prestigious Championship. The 19-year-old Anh Minh, who is presently No. 30 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, will be joined by Nguyen Tuan Anh, Nguyen Van Hoa and Ho Anh Huy.

In recent years, Anh Minh has established himself as one of the game’s rising amateur stars, winning consistently at home and around the region before stamping his mark internationally with a first top-10 finish at the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Australia.

After playing a starring role in Vietnam’s historic maiden victory in the 2024 Asia-Pacific Team Championship for the Nomura Cup, Anh Minh enjoyed more accolades in 2025 by finishing runner-up in the prestigious U.S. Junior Amateur as he became the first finalist from Vietnam in a USGA event.

During his freshman year at Oregon State University, he won his first NCAA Division 1 title at the 2026 Bandon Dunes Collegiate. 

“The AAC is definitely one of the biggest events in amateur golf,” said Anh Minh, who will be amongst the favourites at Te Arai Links.

“I think what makes it so special is not only the level of competition, but also what’s at stake. Having the opportunity to earn a spot in the Masters and The Open is something every amateur golfer dreams about. For me, it’s an event I have a lot of respect for, and being able to compete against some of the best players in the region makes it even more meaningful.”

Anh Minh recently moved from Oregan State University to Arizona State University, which is where defending champion Fifa is also studying and playing collegiate golf. The young Vietnamese is hopeful of emulating his new teammate by becoming Vietnam’s first winner at the Asia-Pacific Amateur.

“It definitely inspired me a lot, seeing him win and getting to go to the majors. I was very happy for him and he's a great guy and knowing that he was the first from his country to win the AAC, it definitely inspired me to go and hopefully make a statement for myself,” said Anh Minh.

The best finish by a Vietnamese player was a T5 result in Dubai last year by Le Khanh Hung, followed by Anh Minh’s T7 in Melbourne in 2023. 

By Chuah Choo Chiang