Phongsapak “FIFA” Laopakdee, 20, rallied from a six-shot deficit with a 4-under 68 and defeated 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki of Japan in the third playoff to win the Asia Pacific Amateur and qualify for next year’s Masters and British Open Championship.
Laopakdee, a junior at Arizona State University, became the first Thai player to win the championship, which began in 2010. He is also the first Thai amateur to compete in the Masters.
Rao Pakdee’s winning shot turned out to be a 6-iron on the 18th of the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course that stayed on the slope above the yellow hazard line and cleared a pond with inches to spare. From there it was simple ups and downs until five consecutive birdies until the regulation 17th hole.
In the end, he birdied five holes on the back nine, including the 17th and 18th, to clinch a playoff spot. Laopakdee made five straight birdies, including the last two holes of regulation, to round out the victory.
“I mean, obviously it’s great,” Raopkhadi said after the tournament. “I think all the Thai fans have been waiting for a long time to see a Thai amateur or a Thai professional at the Masters or the British Open. With this win, I feel like I’ve probably won over a lot of Thai fans. If you check your phone, you’ll probably see a lot of Thai fans texting me right now. It’s great for me, for my parents, for Thai fans, and for my country.”
Nagasaki, who started the final round with a five-stroke lead over Rintaro Nakano, tied Laopakdee with a two-stroke swing on the 15th hole. But the Japanese teenager responded with an 18-foot birdie on the 16th, drove in a reachable par-4 for birdie on the 17th, and hit an exquisite chip shot to 4 feet on the final par-5 hole.
However, he missed the winning birdie putt and finished with a 74, tying him with Lao Pakdee at 15-under 273. Laopakdee was forced up and down from the back bunker to birdie the final two. He shot a 5-under 32 on the back nine.
“After finishing No. 18, I had no idea I’d hit 5 under on the back nine,” Raopakdee said. “It was great golf. Shout out to Taisei. He made my life so much harder.”
More sensational shots followed in the playoffs. Nagasaki opted for a layup on the 18th, and after Laopakdee made a birdie from behind the green, he clipped his wedge two feet above the water for birdie to stay in the playoffs.
Laopakdee used his power on No. 17, which is reachable in the playoffs, and set up another simple up-and-down, and Nagasaki made a wonderful pitch to score a birdie.
But on the 18th, the third playoff hole, Nagasaki went too far to the left of the green and his chip from a sticky lie weighed down, leaving him about 35 feet out. He got par with two putts.
“I’m very disappointed,” Nagasaki said through an interpreter as he wiped his tears with his shirt. “We really struggled to score.”
Nakano finished with a 71, taking third place for the second year in a row.
