By Kent Gray
World amateur No.1 Keita Nakajima and two-time champion Yuxin Lin have lived up to the pre-event hype by setting up a potentially thrilling finale to the 12th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (ACC).

Japan’s Nakajima leads by one from Lin after making one of the eye-catching moves on moving day at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, a four-under 67 taking him to -11.

Nakajima mixed five birdies with a bogey on the challenging par-3 8th but it was the par putt he sank on the Creek’s notorious 18th, after his tee shot found the water and threatened to derail an impressive third round, that stood out.

“I’m happy and feeling good. At the start of the round, I felt a bit nervous, but I birdied No. 3 and 4, and that gave me good momentum.  I’m excited and enjoying my golf, so I just hope I can play well and with confidence,” said Nakajima.     

With starts at the Masters at Augusta National, the 150th Open at St. Andrews and the 127th Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, Nakajima can be assured the nerves will return today.

Lin, 21, knows the pressure and the rewards after winning the 2017 title at Royal Wellington in New Zealand and the last of the pre-pandemic outbreak ACCs at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai in 2019.

Yuxin Lin.

The lefty started the third round four shots off the lead in a tie for 15th after a disappointing second round of 71. But a blistering start with birdies on his first three holes and a further four gains against a solitary bogey saw the Beijing lad sign for a six-under 65 to get to -10. Sam Choi and overnight leader Bo Jin are both well poised on -9.

Elsewhere, UAE No.1 Ahmad Skaik is now sitting on +4 for the tournament after a difficult six-over round, which included two double bogeys. The left-hander was left to rue some bad luck, which included a lost ball from just off the fairway on the 10th hole.

“I was actually playing decent but for those doubles. I made a few silly decisions after that. On eight it was a tough pin position and I still tried to go for it. I left myself a difficult stance in the back of the bunker and ended up with double when I should really have walked away with bogey at worst.

“And on 10 I hit a drive just left of fairway, but couldn’t find the ball, which was very unlucky, I think. It is not always going to go your way on the golf course.”

Ahmad Skaik.

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By Kent Gray
World amateur No.1 Keita Nakajima and defending champion Yuxin Lin will begin Thursday’s second round right where they want to be but probably didn’t count on quite so much company atop the 12th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship leaderboard.

Japan’s Nakajima and China’s Lin, both 21, opened with contrasting four-under 67s at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on Wednesday to share the lead with five others: Alexander Yang (Hong Kong), Jimmy Zheng (New Zealand), Wooyoung Cho, WAGR No.14 Sam Choi (both South Korea) and Australian Lukas Michel, the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion.

RELATED: Watch this South Korean amateur quite literally make the biggest splash on day 1 at the Asia-Pacific

Michel’s countryman Hayden Hopewell, Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, China’s Aaron Du and Chinese Taipei’s Chi-Chun Chen occupied T-8 place at -3 while UAE No.1 Amhad Skaik and Jordan trailblazer Shergo Kurdi are among 12 players on -2 after a breezy day that saw 33 of the 93-strong field better par.

The projected cut – encompassing the top 50 players and ties – sat at +1 overnight.

Teeing off together at 09:05 local time, Lin and Nakajima could not have had more different starts to their rounds. Lin opened with a bogey, while Nakajima started with a birdie then made a double bogey on the very next hole when his tee shot went out of bounds by inches.

Undeterred by the setback, the Japanese star fought back with six birdies in the next 11 holes to claim sole possession of the lead at one stage, before a late bogey on the 16th pegged him back.

“I was very happy with the way I managed the golf course today,” said Nakajima who is aiming to become the third Japanese player to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur after Hideki Matsuyama (2010 and 2011) and Takumi Kanaya (2018).

Keita Nakajima

“That’s something I want to keep on doing. The putting was also good. I made some good ones and then I missed a few short ones,” said Nakajima.

“I really enjoyed playing with Yuxin. He made some good birdies on the front nine and I also followed him. I did not pay attention to his scores but if I am tied with the defending champion, it’s always a good thing. There’s a lot of golf to be played so we will see.”

The bogey on the first was Lin’s only error. He made four birdies before the turn and added another on the 17th hole.

“I thought I played pretty solid today. It was not the best start, but I stayed pretty patient out there and hit some good shots on the front nine,” said Lin who hopes to become the events first three time champion after winning in 2017 and 2019.

“I am just trying to stick to the game plan and just stay patient out there.  Everyone is going to make mistakes, so just stay calm and ready for the next shot and really just give my everything on every shot.”

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THEY SAID IT…

Alexander Yang (Hong Kong) on eagles on the 4th and 13th en-route to a 67
“I think everything just lined up for those two eagles.  I hit a great drive, great approach shot on the green and just made a longer putt. I played solid, so I’m happy about it. My strategy on the golf course will stay the same as it was today.  It worked today, so let’s just keep going with it.”

Sam Choi (South Korea) on recovering from a tough start to finish on 67

“I started out really, really badly actually. I hit zero fairways the first five holes, and then I kind of figured it out along the way. On No. 2, I hit an 8-iron to six feet from the bunker 163 out, and made birdie and on 5, the par 3, I hit the same thing, an 8-iron, 163 to two feet and made birdie. After that, I hit some really good iron shots coming in and made really good putts, too.”

Lukas Michel (Australia) on also tying the lead despite a struggle off the tee

“I definitely didn’t have my best driving performance but the rest of my game was really solid. My chipping, putting and approach play was good. I got lucky a few times with driver but I think I was due that. It was not great and when the wind picked up I started to miss more. It was solid early but coming down the stretch it was a struggle and as we know, you need to drive the last two holes well and I didn’t.  But I managed to salvage pars and that was good.”

The post World No.1 and defending champion ominously positioned in seven-way Asia-Pacific lead at Dubai Creek appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
While he undoubtedly shares the field-wide dream of earning invites to The Masters at Augusta National in April and July’s milestone 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, Amhad Skaik’s reality at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is very much in the here and now.

The UAE No.1 has been handed the honour of hitting the opening shot at the 12th edition of the region’s pre-eminent amateur event at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. He’ll do so at 7.15am on Wednesday, the first of 93 players looking to emulate the likes of two-time former champion Hideki Matsuyama at the 72-hole strokeplay event by becoming Asia-Pacific champion with its two major benefits.

“It is an honour…for Dubai to host the tournament, and for me to be hitting the opening shot of the tournament. It is very special. I’m just excited to get going, and it is good to go out first,” said the 24-year-old left-hander.

Like many in the field, Skaik has plenty of experience but little recent competition play to draw on after the obvious impact of the pandemic on golf’s global amateur calendar.

“My form is pretty good. This is my second tournament in six months. So, let’s see how that goes,” he said.

“The AAC is a very big tournament, and it means a lot to me to do well, especially here in my country. I’ve played the event three times and didn’t play as well as I wanted, so I’m hoping that I’ll make the cut and play much better than before.”

Skaik, who will be flying the UAE flag alongside Khalid Yousuf, Khalifa Al Masaood and Rashid Al Emadi this week, is looking for a fast start.

“In terms of conditions, I think the ball will fly a bit faster in the morning. The Creek course can be a little windy in the afternoon but over the first two rounds we are going to get exposure to both morning and afternoon golf so it is not going to make such a difference. I’m playing pretty good, let’s see how it goes.”

HISTORY: UAE No.1 Ahmad Skaik gets the 12th Asia Pacific Amateur Championship underway at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. It is the first time the UAE has hosted the prestigious event.

The post UAE No.1 Ahmad Skaik gets 12th Asia-Pacific Amateur at Dubai Creek underway appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 29-year-old won the ACC back-to-back in 2010 and 2011 and has gone on to achieve reasonable things a decade later; a green jacket as reigning Masters champion and a seventh PGA Tour title as the freshly-minted Zozo Championship winner.

Invites to April’s Masters tournament at Augusta National and the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews next July will again be the huge lure for players hoping to emulate Matsuyama at the 12th edition of the ACC at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club this month.

A place in amateur folklore also beckons for Yuxin Lin who will attempt to defend the title he won in a playoff at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai in 2019 (the tournament was cancelled last year due to COVID-19). The 21-year-old Chinese player will attempt to distance himself from Matsuyama as the most successful player in AAC history after also winning the title at Royal Wellington in New Zealand in 2017.

“It would be a dream come true if I can win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship for a third time,” said Lin, a University of Florida junior who is no stranger to UAE conditions having finished tied for 30th in the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi Championship last year.

“To already be placed in the same bracket as Hideki Matsuyama as a two-time champion is surreal so to get one ahead would be amazing.”

“It is the biggest tournament in our part of the world and I know how much the players will be eager to get their hands on the trophy. It is an incredible opportunity to gain an invitation to the Masters and a place in The 150th Open at St Andrews next year. It will be a tough task but I will give it my best shot.”

MORE: Cambodian golfer represents big dreams of competitors in the Asia-Pacific Amateur

The Beijing left-hander won’t have it easy at The Creek.

Japan’s Keita Nakajima is the world amateur No.1 and has been an unstoppable force in his home country. In his last three starts, he has won the Japan Amateur Championship, followed by triumph at the Panasonic Open against a quality field of professionals on the Japan Golf Tour.

“I want to be with Hideki san when he defends his Masters title next year so this is my best chance to fulfil that dream.”
– Japan’s World No.1 Keita Nakajima

Nakajima, who came close to winning the AAC in 2018 in Singapore when he was a co-leader going into the final round but his fine 67 was upstaged by compatriot and best friend Takumi Kanaya (65), won the Mark McCormack Medal in August for being the top-ranked amateur in the world. He took over the number one position from Kanaya after the latter turned professional in 2020.

With most amateur tournaments in the Asia-Pacific region cancelled due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the 21-year-old Nippon Sport Science University student has relied on playing against professionals in the last couple of years. Apart from his recent Panasonic Open win, he also finished second in the Token Homemate Cup in April (finishing one stroke behind Kanaya) and third in last year’s Mitsui Sumitomo Taiheiyo Masters.

Nakajima, who said he cried on the day Kanaya decided to turn professional, added: “I’m an amateur who is at college, so it is an honour that I get the chance to play against the professionals. I feel it provides me with a great challenge to compete against them and that it has helped me become a better player.

“Of course, my confidence is high because of the win but I know I will still have to play at my best in Dubai to be in contention on the final day. I want to be with Hideki san when he defends his Masters title next year so this is my best chance to fulfil that dream and get to play alongside him at Augusta National Golf Club,” added Nakajima who is already assured of a place at The Open next year and the U.S. Open as a result of winning the McCormack Medal.

UAE No.1 Ahmad Skaik has secured a spot in the field along with compatriots Khalid Yousuf, Khalifa Al Masaood and Rashid Al Emadi, while Arkesh Bhatia, another big name on the UAE scene, will be representing India.

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What: 12th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (ACC)
Where: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
When: Nov. 3-6

The post Hideki’s Legacy inspires as 12th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship begins at Dubai Creek appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Special Correspondent
Many of the finest players in the region will battle it out for the coveted Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) crown when the 12th edition of the championship is contested at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club from November 3-6.

Japan’s Keita Nakajima and China’s Yuxin Lin are two of the most compelling stories at this year’s event. Nakajima will be entering the championship as the reigning No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), while the two-time AAC champion Lin aims to surpass 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (2010, 11) and become the first player to win the title three times.

However, with the region attempting to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, which denied many players competitive action for a long period of time, the field will be hungry to make its mark in the Asia-Pacific region’s most integral amateur championship. And then there is the big motivation – a dream invitation to the 2022 Masters and the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews.

Following are five players who are certain to have a say in this year’s championship:

Photograph by AAC

KEITA NAKAJIMA
Japan
WAGR (as of 20 October 2021): 1

The 21-year-old becomes only the fourth active WAGR No. 1 player to compete in the AAC, joining Matsuyama, Japan’s Takumi Kanaya and Australia’s Curtis Luck. He took over as the top-ranked amateur in the world when Kanaya – his compatriot, best friend and 2018 AAC champion – turned professional. The Tokyo-based Nippon Sport Science University student is making his fourth appearance in the championship and aims to finish better than his tie for second place in 2018. With amateur golf coming to a standstill in the region, he has relied on playing against the professionals on Japan Golf Tour since the beginning of 2020, winning once at the Panasonic Open, finishing inside the top 10 three times and recording two top-20 finishes. Known for his fearless approach on the golf course, Nakajima famously decided to hit his driver on every par-4 and par-5 holes in a couple of tournaments. Earlier this year, the Mark McCormack Medal winner said his big goals for 2021 were to win a professional golf tournament as an amateur and win the Asia-Pacific Amateur title and follow in the footsteps of Hideki Matsuyama and Kanaya. He checked the initial box with his victory in the Panasonic Open, as he became just the fifth amateur to win an event in the history of that professional tour. He will excitedly attempt to accomplish the second feat at Dubai Creek.

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SAM CHOI
Korea
WAGR: 13

The recent form of the 21-year-old University of New Mexico senior, who is majoring in communications, is sending a clear message to the fans that the AAC this year is much more than a Nakajima-Lin fight. In five events between May and July this year, Choi won the New Mexico-West Texas Amateur and Maridoe Amateur Championship, and finished runner-up in the Mountain West Conference individual championship and the Pacific Coast Amateur, advancing to a playoff in both events. In his last two events, the Wolf Pack Classic and the William H. Tucker in Albuquerque, he finished in a tie for runner-up. This marks Choi’s first appearance in the AAC, and he will be bidding to end a long drought for his country. If he makes it to the podium on Saturday, Choi will become the third Korean champion after Han Chang-Won in the inaugural 2009 edition and Lee Chang-Woo in 2013.

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Photograph by AAC

YUXIN LIN
China
WAGR: 22

The defending champ – a winner in Wellington in 2017 and Shanghai in 2019 – will not only be looking to hold on to his crown and become just the second player after Hideki Matsuyama to repeat as champion in AAC history, he will also attempt to better the Japanese legend and win the AAC title for a record third time. This marks Lin’s fifth start in the championship, and after finishing tied for 21st in his debut appearance in South Korea (2016), his worst finish was a tie for ninth place in Singapore in 2018. With the Beijing-born Lin’s ability to bring out the best in his game at AAC, the University of Florida southpaw will always be counted among the pre-championship favourites.

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PUWIT ANUPANSUEBSAI
Thailand
WAGR: 42

Despite producing several professional players who have made a mark for themselves on the world stage, Thailand has yet to have a player raise the trophy at the AAC. One of the major reasons often offered for this is that Thai players tend to turn professional at a very early age. Not Anupansuebsai though. The 22-year-old, a senior at San Diego State University, decided on a full college career, and is in prime position to add Thailand to the championship’s annals. A two-time member of the International Team in the Arnold Palmer Cup, he won all three of his matches in 2021. Across a six-week stretch of college golf in April through May this year, he won twice and finished second in two other starts. Standing 5 ft. 3 in., Anupansuebsai packs a punch in his slender frame, but make no mistake – he is ready to reach tall heights.

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Arjun Gupta lets it rip off the 9th tee during this year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. (Andrew Redington/Getty Image)

ARJUN GUPTA
India
WAGR: 202

While the 17-year-old Indian may not be ranked as highly as some of his fellow competitors, he has a unique edge over the field – born and raised in Dubai, Gupta has the best local knowledge of the field on how to tackle the course at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. Gupta won the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship in December last year, which earned him a place in the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. He also participated in the U.S. Junior Amateursthis year and reached the round of 16. Interestingly, Gupta’s twin sister, Natalii, has been nominated by the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) to play under the UAE flag in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, which is being held the week after the AAC in Abu Dhabi.

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