Thai golfer Laopakdee wins Asian amateur title again

Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand returned to the Masters and the British Open after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur for the second year in a row. The 21-year-old finished with a three-shot victory at Te Arai Links in New Zealand.

Laopakdee closed his final round with a 1-under 70. He finished at 6-under 278 on the wind-blown seaside course located about an hour north of Auckland. This result makes him only the second player to win back-to-back titles in the tournament's history since it began in 2009.

The turning point came on the 11th hole during the final round. Laopakdee hit his approach shot just over the false front, leaving himself a 7-foot birdie putt. He made the putt, while his closest rival, Zack Swanwick of New Zealand, took a triple bogey. That four-shot swing moved Laopakdee from a two-shot deficit to a two-shot lead.

Laopakdee extended his advantage on the 17th hole with a wedge shot to 4 feet for another birdie. Swanwick, who started the final round with a two-shot lead, did not make a birdie until the closing par-5 hole. He shot a 75 in the final round.

Swanwick, a junior at Florida, missed a critical chance to tie for the lead on the 13th hole. His second shot came up short, and he pitched to 10 feet for birdie. Laopakdee, who drove into a sandy area and advanced the ball only 40 yards, laid up and then hit a wedge to 20 feet. He rolled in the long par putt while Swanwick missed his birdie attempt.

Laopakdee, who is ranked No. 31 in the world amateur rankings, credited the windy conditions for his momentum shift. He said it was tough luck for Swanwick on the 11th hole, noting that his own great second shot created huge momentum. The Thai golfer also noted that he wanted to prove to himself that he still had his game after a disappointing stretch earlier in the year.

The win sends Laopakdee to Augusta National in April for the Masters. He also earns a return trip to St. Andrews for the British Open next summer. Laopakdee said he exchanged phone numbers with Justin Rose at the last Masters, and Rose promised him a practice round if Laopakdee qualified again.