Rintaro Nakano joins a 3-way tie for the lead at the Asia-Pacific Amateur
The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is heating up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as Rintaro Nakano of Japan made a spectacular eagle on the par-5 13th hole for the second consecutive day. Nakano finished strong with a birdie, carding a 6-under 66 to move into a three-way tie for the lead at 11-under 133 at the halfway point of the tournament.
Joining Nakano at the top of the leaderboard are Khanh Hung Le from Vietnam and Harry Takis from Australia. Le, a 17-year-old golfer who has committed to play college golf at Illinois, shot a 67 to put himself in contention for the prestigious title. Takis also had a stellar round, carding a 66 to join the leaders at 11-under.
The stakes are high this weekend at the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, as the winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship will earn a spot in both the Masters and the British Open next year. For Le, a victory would make him the first Vietnamese winner since the tournament’s inception in 2010. Nakano, on the other hand, is aiming to join the ranks of elite Japanese winners like Hideki Matsuyama, Takumi Kanaya, and Keita Nakajima, who have all held the title of No. 1 amateurs in the world.
Takis, a San Diego State alum, is looking to continue the recent success of Aztec golfers. With major champions like Xander Schauffele and J.J. Spaun coming from the program, Takis hopes to add his name to the list of successful alumni.
The cut for the top 60 and ties came at 6-over 150, with players like Geoffrey Lablak from Lebanon making history as the first player from his country to make the cut in the Asia-Pacific. Three players from the United Arab Emirates also made the cut, with Ahman Skaik leading the way in a tie for 10th place.
The competition is fierce as the players head into the final rounds of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, with a chance to secure a spot in two of the most prestigious tournaments in golf on the line. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting event.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
