Laopakdee retains Asia-Pacific amateur title as Dumdumaya finishes joint 13th
The Thai golfer won by three strokes in New Zealand, earning another Masters invitation and a berth in The Open.
Thailand's Fifa Laopakdee successfully defended his Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship title at Te Arai Links South Course in New Zealand, closing with a one-under 70 for a total of 278. New Zealand's Zach Swanwick finished second, three strokes behind.
The contest turned at the par-4 11th. Laopakdee was two shots behind before making a birdie, while overnight leader Swanwick recorded a triple bogey after trouble around a greenside bunker. That four-shot change put Laopakdee two strokes ahead.
Laopakdee added a birdie at the par-3 17th after placing his tee shot within two feet, then completed his round with par at the 18th. He became the championship's third multiple winner, having won in Dubai last year after overcoming a six-shot deficit and winning a three-player playoff.
Swanwick finished with a birdie for a 75 and an aggregate of 281. Australia's Kayun Mudadana took third on 282 after shooting 67.
Filipino-American Jaden Dumdumaya reached joint sixth during the final round but ended where he began, tied for 13th. Birdies at the fifth, 10th, 13th and 14th followed a bogey at the second, before double bogeys at the 15th and 17th left him with a 72 and a total of 289.
Shinichi Suzuki shot 76 for the second successive round, finishing tied for 53rd on 307. The other Filipino representatives, Rolando Bregente and Chris Remata, missed the cut.
