7 golfers share lead in Asia-Pacific Amateur

News

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Defending champion Yuxin Lin of China and top-ranked amateur Keita Nakajima of Japan were among seven players who shared the lead at 4-under 67 as the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship began Wednesday with some of the biggest stars off to an ideal start.

Lin is trying to become the first three-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, which began in 2009 and awards a spot in the Masters and British Open to the winner. Nakajima already has locked up the Mark H. McCormack Medal for being the No. 1 amateur.

Joining them atop the leaderboard was Lukas Michel of Australia, who won the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 2019, and Sam Choi of South Korea, who is 14th in the world amateur ranking (fourth among players from Asian countries).

Nakajima already has won a Japan Golf Tour event and tied for 28th in the Zozo Championship on the PGA Tour two weeks ago. His round at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club included a tee shot that sailed out-of-bounds on No. 2, only for him to respond with six birdies over the next 11 holes. He was slowed late by a three-putt bogey on the 16th.

Also at 67 were Alexander Yang of Hong Kong, Jimmy Zheng of New Zealand and Wooyoung Cho of South Korea.

Twenty-three players broke 70 in the opening round.

Nakajima played with Lin, who started his college career at USC and now is a junior at Florida. Lin won the Asia-Pacific Amateur in 2017 and 2019, joining Hideki Matsuyama as the only two-time winner.

“I really enjoyed playing with Yuxin. He made some good birdies on the front nine and I also followed him,” Nakajima said. “I did not pay attention to his scores but if I am tied with the defending champion, it’s always a good thing. There’s a lot of golf to be played so we will see.”

The top 50 and ties make the cut after 36 holes.

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

Shin takes unlikely share of lead on LPGA Tour
How to watch Texas Children’s Houston Open: ESPN+ schedule
Clark tweaks back, hopes to play Houston Open
McIlroy, Lowry will partner for April’s Zurich Classic
Svensson wins in Singapore on third playoff hole

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *