Australian golfer Mudadana finished third in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, held at Te Arai Links in New Zealand. The 20-year-old’s strong performance included a four-under 67, despite experiencing several near misses with his putter. He ended the tournament with a total score of two under, four shots behind the winner, Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee.
Laopakdee, who won the championship for the second consecutive year, secured his victory over New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick, who finished just three under par. As the champion, Laopakdee earns a spot in next year’s prestigious US Masters and Open Championship.
Mudadana was one of only four golfers to finish under par in challenging windy conditions along the course, located 100 kilometers north of Auckland. “I like links courses and my game sets up well for it,” he stated. “I knew I would be a good chance this week, even though I probably wasn’t one of the favorites going in.” Reflecting on his performance, he added, “It does sting… but I played some good golf. I had a few putts miss on the back nine, just slightly.”
Australia’s Harry Takis, the top-ranked amateur in the field, tied for sixth place at one over par after a mixed final round that included an eagle, two birdies, and five bogeys, resulting in a score of one-over 72. Fellow Australian Jonty Lunson finished in eighth place with a score of two over par. Other Australian competitors included Harrison Gomez, who tied for 16th at seven over, Wesley Hinton at 12 over in a tie for 35th, and Sam Cascio at 21 over, finishing in a tie for 48th.
The tournament saw dramatic shifts in scores, particularly on the 11th hole, where Swanwick, initially the leader, faced a triple bogey that set back his chances. His bunker shot landed him in an unfavorable position, leading to a significant four-shot swing in the tournament. Laopakdee capitalized on the moment, making a birdie that further solidified his lead. “It wasn’t that bad of a (bunker) shot but ended up in not a good situation,” Swanwick commented, noting that he found the experience disappointing yet acknowledged the challenges of the game.
The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship continues to attract top talent from the region as competitors look ahead to future opportunities in professional tournaments.
