Dubai, Oct 26 – In a tournament that drew top amateur talent from across the globe, 17‑year‑old Anshul Mishra became only the third Indian to finish inside the top‑ten of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship (APAC). The young golfer posted a perfect 70 in the final round, moving into a tie for seventh place – 9‑under 279 – in the crowded field at the Emirates Golf Club.
Mishra, who turned 17 three days before the event, said the experience was both exhilarating and humbling. “I watched Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood at the DP World India Championship the night before,” he recalled. “Their shot making taught me a lot. I tried to keep the ball on the fairway and the green, and I managed to hit eight birdies out of thirty‑six holes.” He added that he’d like to drop the bogeys from his game for a chance to go into a playoff.
The championship, held from the Majilis Course—also the home of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic—was a step toward bigger stages. “This is my stepping stone,” Mishra said. “I’m excited that my win as a teenager could open doors.”
The most headline‑grabbing moment, however, was the victory of Thailand’s Pongsapak Laopakdee, who goes by “Fifa.” After falling six shots behind the overnight leader, 16‑year‑old Taisei Nagasaki of Japan, Fifa stormed the field with a 67 in the last round. He birdied three times in the play‑off sequence of 18th, 17th, and again the 18th hole, becoming the first Thai champion at the APAC.
“The nickname comes from my dad’s love of football,” Fifa laughed. “He’s always talking about FIFA, and I thought it fit.” He praised Thai golf legends Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat for inspiring him. “Kiradech told me never stop practising,” he added.
With the win, Fifa will compete in the 2026 Masters and The Open. He described the finish: “I was singing with my caddie the whole time. It felt like a dream.”
Other Indian players performed strongly. Dubai‑based Raghav Gulati (T‑27) and Rakshit Dahiya (T‑42) made the cut, while Harshad Mitra and Harman Sachdeva struggled to stay in the field.
Internationally, Japan’s Rintaro Nakano and Australians Harry Takis and Billy Dowling round out the top finishers. The championship will return next year at Te Arai Links in New Zealand.
In total, five Indians made the cut; Mishra’s 9‑under results place him in a four‑way tie for seventh alongside Korea’s Minsu Kim, Seonghyeon An and China’s Xihuan Chang. The tournament showcases a new generation of amateur golfers who may soon become familiar names in majors such as the Masters and the Open.
Source: ianslive
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