Fifa Laopakdee Rallies to Win Second Consecutive Asia-Pacific Amateur Title

Fifa Laopakdee closed with a 1-under 70 to finish at 6-under 278, securing a three-shot victory at Te Arai Links.

Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand closed with a 1-under 70 on Sunday to finish at 6-under 278, securing a three-shot victory at the Asia-Pacific Amateur. The 21-year-old Arizona State senior overcame a three-shot deficit with 10 holes remaining at Te Arai Links to become the second player in tournament history to win back-to-back titles, joining Hideki Matsuyama. This victory earns Laopakdee invitations to the 2027 Masters at Augusta National and the British Open at St. Andrews.

The tournament shifted on the par-4 11th hole, where Laopakdee birdied from 7 feet while leader Zack Swanwick carded a triple bogey. This four-shot swing turned Laopakdee’s two-shot deficit into a two-shot lead. Swanwick, a junior at Florida who held a two-shot lead entering the final round, struggled to a 75 and did not record a birdie until the 18th hole. His round included a four-putt bogey on the 14th hole that left him three strokes behind.

Laopakdee extended his lead to four shots on the par-3 17th by hitting a wedge to 4 feet for his final birdie. He finished the week as one of only four players under par on the wind-blown course north of Auckland. Kayun Mudadana of Australia took third place at 2-under 282 following a final-round 67, while Cooper Moore finished fourth at 1-under 283.

Ranked No. 31 in the world amateur ranking, Laopakdee previously won the Desimone Invitational in March. His successful title defense follows a 2025 victory in Dubai, where he rallied from six shots back to win in a playoff. He now prepares for a return to the Masters, where he previously arranged a practice round with Justin Rose.