Dubai, Oct 24 – Anshul Mishra, the 17‑year‑old former All India Amateur champion from Kolkata, is close to a top‑10 finish in his first Asia Pacific Amateur Championship (APAC) in Dubai. The 16th edition of the tournament attracts the best amateur golfers from the region and offers a 2026 Masters and Open spot to the winner.
On Thursday, Mishra opened with an even‑par 72. By Friday he had poured on a 69, putting him at –3 over two days and tied for 13th place. “I was aiming for a bogey‑free round,” he told reporters, “but I’ll take what I earned and keep going.”
Mishra trailed the leaders by eight shots. Japan’s Rintaro Nakano (67‑66), Vietnam’s Khanh Hung Le (66‑67) and Australia’s Harry Takis (67‑66) sat at –11 on the Majilis Course of the Emirates Golf Club. The next‑closest was Japan’s Taisei Nagasaki (67‑67, –10). Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee finished fifth at –9.
The young Indian beat the 17‑shot gap to stay in contention. He saved most of his ball from bogeys, recording one only on the 16th. “I wanted to stay bogey‑free, but getting a birdie on a par‑5 helped,” he said. Mishra marked three of his four birdies on par‑5 holes, a high‑point of his day.
Dubai‑based golfer Raghav Gulati (73‑70, T‑19) also made the cut, with a 70 that included an eagle and three birdies. He recovered after a rough first round, posting three bogeys between the 11th and 15th holes, but flipped the turn with a birdie on 12 and eagle on 13.
Rakshit Dahiya, the top WAGR‑ranked Indian, tied for 23rd with a 72 that featured two birdies, two bogeys and several missed opportunities. Ranveer Mitroo finished near the front with a 71 (T‑28) based on four birdies and three bogeys. Only Harman Sachdeva (79‑73, 8‑over) missed the cut by two shots.
Mishra’s comments after the event highlighted his focus. “It’s going to be on my mind that I have a chance to finish well, but I won’t dwell on that over the next two days,” he said. “I’ll take each hole, each shot, the way I’ve been doing. That’s the plan.”
Co‑leaders at the top of the leaderboard included Japan’s Nakano, who has competed in the AAC three times and recently finished third in the 2024 Taiheiyo Club Gotemba event. Vietnam’s Khanh Hung Le, now in his second AAC appearance, has a solid record on junior tours, winning the Juan Sebastian Munoz Cup in Colombia and finishing runner‑up at the Vietnam Junior Open. Australian Harry Takis, who won the Singapore Open Amateur by 11 strokes in 2024, also tied for first.
The APAC remains a key stepping‑stone for amateur golfers eyeing major championships. With its 2026 Masters and Open qualification on the line, the competition sees many of the region’s top swing‑handed talent.
As the final day looms, Anshul Mishra’s and the other Indian golfers’ performances keep fans watching. Their aim? Sharpen their game in Dubai to rise into the world’s most coveted amateur slots.
Source: ianslive
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