Thai Golfer Pongsapak Laopakdee Wins Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Earns Masters & Open Championship Invitations

Pongsapak “Fifa” Laopakdee of Thailand overcame a six-stroke deficit with a final-round 4-under 68 and defeated Japan’s Taisei Nagasaki on the third playoff hole today to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai.

Laopakdee, a junior at Arizona State University, is the first player from Thailand to claim the championship, which began in 2010. His victory secures him coveted invitations to compete in the 2026 Masters Tournament and the Open Championship. The winning shot came on the 18th hole of the Majlis course, where his 6-iron cleared the water hazard by inches, setting up a birdie and forcing the playoff. “Coach, I did it!” Laopakdee exclaimed to his Arizona State coach, Matt Thurmond, after the win, referencing a prior promise: “I’ll win this event and be the first Thai amateur to play in the Masters.”

Nagasaki, 16, held a five-shot lead entering the final round but finished with a 74, ultimately tying Laopakdee at 15-under 273. Despite a strong showing that included birdies on the 16th and 17th holes, he missed a birdie putt on the 18th that would have won him the championship. The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is a significant pathway for young golfers in the region to gain international exposure and compete against the world’s best. “Very disappointed,” Nagasaki said through an interpreter, visibly emotional. “I really struggled to make a score.”

Rintaro Nakano finished third with a 71, marking the second consecutive year he has placed in that position. Officials confirmed that both Laopakdee and Nagasaki will receive exemptions into upcoming professional events as a result of their performance this week.