Thai golfer Fifa Laopakdee carded a 1-under 70 on Sunday at Te Arai Links in New Zealand to win his second consecutive Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship by three strokes, securing automatic invitations to the Masters at Augusta National and the Open Championship at St. Andrews.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Laopakdee secures vital major championship exempt status for the upcoming season.
The Turning Point at Te Arai Links
Entering the final round, Laopakdee overturned the deficit during a disastrous sequence for New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick on the back nine. Swanwick held a two-shot advantage standing on the 11th tee before his approach landed in the greenside bunker on the left, and his next shot out rolled by the pin and off the green. That miscue resulted in a triple-bogey seven, triggering a four-stroke swing that vaulted the defending champion into a two-shot lead.
Laopakdee maintained control down the stretch despite stumbling into trouble on the par-5 13th hole, where he drove into a sandy area, and only advanced the ball some 40 yards into more sand. He effectively ended it with a wedge to 4 feet on the par-3 17th for one final birdie, finishing the tournament at 6-under. The triumph places the Arizona State senior alongside Hideki Matsuyama as the only players in the history of the event to successfully defend their titles since its inception in 2009.
Home Hopes Fade for New Zealand Contenders
Swanwick struggled to recover after the 11th-hole setback, failing to register a birdie until the par-5 closing hole to sign for a 75 and finish alone in second place at 3-under. The Napier golfer was bidding to become the first New Zealander to claim the championship. Christchurch’s Cooper Moore also faded from contention after early bogeys on the front nine, ultimately finishing in fourth at 1-under following a closing 75.
| Position | Player | Country | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fifa Laopakdee | Thailand | -6 |
| 2 | Zack Swanwick | New Zealand | -3 |
| 3 | Kayun Mudadana | Australia | -2 |
| 4 | Cooper Moore | New Zealand | -1 |
Looking Ahead to Augusta and St. Andrews
With the defense complete, Laopakdee turns his attention toward major championship preparations, including a return to Augusta National in April for the Masters and a trip to St. Andrews in the summer for the British Open.
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