Two in a row for Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee – image AAC
Thailand’s brilliant Fifa Laopakdee has become the second golfer to win two Asia Pacific Amateur Championships, with an impressive three-shot victory over 54-hole leader Zack Swanwick at Te Arai Links north of Auckland.
Laopakdee joins Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama as not only a two-time winner of the prestigious event, but, also a winner on two consecutive occasions at that, and now gets the chance to play the Masters and the Open Championship for the second consecutive year, having also earned the right to play those majors following his win in this event in Dubai last year.
He began the final round two behind New Zealand’s Florida State attendee, Swanwick, and by the turn the margin was the same, but things were about to unravel for the man from Hawkes Bay.
Both Laopakdee and Swanwick found the fairway at the par four 11th, but after Laopakdee had produced a fine approach into the wind to 14 feet, Swanwick found the left-hand greenside bunker, possibly protecting against the significant and dangerous drop-off to the right of the green. He might have been better off if he had missed the green right, as his bunker shot, which initially appeared good, released across the green and down the hill. He failed to reach the green with a perhaps strange decision to pitch and run rather than putt up the smooth surface and he faced the same shot again as the ball returned to his feet.
He was perhaps lucky to get his 4th shot on the green but 12 feet short, and when he missed that and the next, he had racked up a triple bogey. When Laopakdee holed his birdie putt, there had been a four-shot swing and the Thai golfer had taken a two-shot lead.
“It was a huge momentum shift, that’s for sure,” said Laopakdee. “I mean, my hand was shaking right after the 11 putt, since I know that I’m a leader. I just keep telling myself I’m still going to play like I’m behind, and I’m still going to think in my head that he’s still leading. Still playing the game, like I’m not a leader. Still be aggressive but also play smart. I think I played it perfectly coming down the stretch.”
Swanwick appeared as if he might get one or two of the shots back at the par 5 13th, but Laopakdee, after an adventure playing the hole, found a way to hole a 25-foot par-saving putt while Swanwick missed a tricky 8-foot downhill birdie putt, and both had made par.
The 14th hole would be another crucial hole in the outcome when, after driving brilliantly to the very back of the green at the par 4, Swanwick four-putted for a bogey to fall yet another shot behind, and the difference was three.
Laopakdee, now needing to just stay upright over the closing holes, hit a stunning tee shot at the par 3 17th and converted to make the difference four, but Swanwick would birdie the last to finish three behind, with New South Wales golfer, Kayun Mudadana, heading the Australians when he produced a final round of 67 to finish as one of only four players under par at 2 under and finish 3rd.
Laopakdee played both the Masters and the Open Championship last year and was asked how differently he might approach them this year given he is returning.
“I don’t think I have to do that much differently. As I said, this year, I was not that confident out there compared to my roommates, but next year, I’ll definitely be a lot more calm and collected and keep my composure a lot better than this year. Because last year to this year, I’m a lot more mature, and from this year to next year, if I keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll be even more mature.
“Yeah, when you get to live like a real professional golfer’s life at the Masters and The Open, you share the same locker room, share the same dining hall, share the same practice round, you get to experience how those people live. I just learned from it, and it made me a lot more mature, and I’ve started to read books now that help with my brain now. I love reading about golf psychology, like the Bob Rotella book.
“This morning – the whole week, when I have a late tee time, I wake up, eat breakfast, go back to my room, read books, write down notes in my journal and try to find something that I can use on the course, and it worked out perfectly.
“So yeah, I’m really looking forward to both Augusta and St Andrews. I will have a great time, and I know if I keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll have a great chance of playing good golf at both of them.”
Swanwick will no doubt be gutted, but this was a great experience in front of home crowds to contend in one of the world’s now most significant amateur championships and he did himself proud. He returns to Florida and Florida State as no doubt a much more experienced golfer than he was the case a week ago.
“It was a special week,” said Swanwick. “Back in your home country, playing on a nice course, family out. A little disappointing, but it’s tough to be sad walking away from the week.
“It (the support) was pretty cool, pretty loud, a lot of Kiwis out, which is always good. It was really cool to have that support.”
New Zealand’s Cooper Moore birdied the last hole after a tough day to finish alone in 4th place at 1 under while New Zealand’s Ryan Xie produced the equal best round of the day (66) to finish 5th.
While Laopakdee was the winner of the event, the other major beneficiaries of the 2026 Asia Pacific Championship were the stunning Te Arai Links and New Zealand golf tourism, which has benefited so much from the involvement of the New Zealand Open in New Zealand’s tourism playground of Queenstown, but now the quality of golf in the far north of the country has been exposed to a wide audience; the commercial spin-off for the country is almost immeasurable.
Leaderboard
Zack Swanwick – beaten but not disgraced – image AAC
Classy Fifa Laopakdee wins second consecutive Asia Pacific Amateur
Two in a row for Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee – image AAC
Thailand’s brilliant Fifa Laopakdee has become the second golfer to win two Asia Pacific Amateur Championships, with an impressive three-shot victory over 54-hole leader Zack Swanwick at Te Arai Links north of Auckland.
Laopakdee joins Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama as not only a two-time winner of the prestigious event, but, also a winner on two consecutive occasions at that, and now gets the chance to play the Masters and the Open Championship for the second consecutive year, having also earned the right to play those majors following his win in this event in Dubai last year.
He began the final round two behind New Zealand’s Florida State attendee, Swanwick, and by the turn the margin was the same, but things were about to unravel for the man from Hawkes Bay.
Both Laopakdee and Swanwick found the fairway at the par four 11th, but after Laopakdee had produced a fine approach into the wind to 14 feet, Swanwick found the left-hand greenside bunker, possibly protecting against the significant and dangerous drop-off to the right of the green. He might have been better off if he had missed the green right, as his bunker shot, which initially appeared good, released across the green and down the hill. He failed to reach the green with a perhaps strange decision to pitch and run rather than putt up the smooth surface and he faced the same shot again as the ball returned to his feet.
He was perhaps lucky to get his 4th shot on the green but 12 feet short, and when he missed that and the next, he had racked up a triple bogey. When Laopakdee holed his birdie putt, there had been a four-shot swing and the Thai golfer had taken a two-shot lead.
“It was a huge momentum shift, that’s for sure,” said Laopakdee. “I mean, my hand was shaking right after the 11 putt, since I know that I’m a leader. I just keep telling myself I’m still going to play like I’m behind, and I’m still going to think in my head that he’s still leading. Still playing the game, like I’m not a leader. Still be aggressive but also play smart. I think I played it perfectly coming down the stretch.”
Swanwick appeared as if he might get one or two of the shots back at the par 5 13th, but Laopakdee, after an adventure playing the hole, found a way to hole a 25-foot par-saving putt while Swanwick missed a tricky 8-foot downhill birdie putt, and both had made par.
The 14th hole would be another crucial hole in the outcome when, after driving brilliantly to the very back of the green at the par 4, Swanwick four-putted for a bogey to fall yet another shot behind, and the difference was three.
Laopakdee, now needing to just stay upright over the closing holes, hit a stunning tee shot at the par 3 17th and converted to make the difference four, but Swanwick would birdie the last to finish three behind, with New South Wales golfer, Kayun Mudadana, heading the Australians when he produced a final round of 67 to finish as one of only four players under par at 2 under and finish 3rd.
Laopakdee played both the Masters and the Open Championship last year and was asked how differently he might approach them this year given he is returning.
“I don’t think I have to do that much differently. As I said, this year, I was not that confident out there compared to my roommates, but next year, I’ll definitely be a lot more calm and collected and keep my composure a lot better than this year. Because last year to this year, I’m a lot more mature, and from this year to next year, if I keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll be even more mature.
“Yeah, when you get to live like a real professional golfer’s life at the Masters and The Open, you share the same locker room, share the same dining hall, share the same practice round, you get to experience how those people live. I just learned from it, and it made me a lot more mature, and I’ve started to read books now that help with my brain now. I love reading about golf psychology, like the Bob Rotella book.
“This morning – the whole week, when I have a late tee time, I wake up, eat breakfast, go back to my room, read books, write down notes in my journal and try to find something that I can use on the course, and it worked out perfectly.
“So yeah, I’m really looking forward to both Augusta and St Andrews. I will have a great time, and I know if I keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll have a great chance of playing good golf at both of them.”
Swanwick will no doubt be gutted, but this was a great experience in front of home crowds to contend in one of the world’s now most significant amateur championships and he did himself proud. He returns to Florida and Florida State as no doubt a much more experienced golfer than he was the case a week ago.
“It was a special week,” said Swanwick. “Back in your home country, playing on a nice course, family out. A little disappointing, but it’s tough to be sad walking away from the week.
“It (the support) was pretty cool, pretty loud, a lot of Kiwis out, which is always good. It was really cool to have that support.”
New Zealand’s Cooper Moore birdied the last hole after a tough day to finish alone in 4th place at 1 under while New Zealand’s Ryan Xie produced the equal best round of the day (66) to finish 5th.
While Laopakdee was the winner of the event, the other major beneficiaries of the 2026 Asia Pacific Championship were the stunning Te Arai Links and New Zealand golf tourism, which has benefited so much from the involvement of the New Zealand Open in New Zealand’s tourism playground of Queenstown, but now the quality of golf in the far north of the country has been exposed to a wide audience; the commercial spin-off for the country is almost immeasurable.
Leaderboard
Zack Swanwick – beaten but not disgraced – image AAC
Zack Swanwick takes lead into final round at Asia Pacifc Amateur Championship
New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick acknowledges the crowd after holing a birdie putt at the last – image AAC
Through six holes of Thursday’s opening round of the 2026 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, 20-year-old New Zealander Zack Swanwick, must have been wondering just what was going on. As one of the leading-ranked players in the field, he found himself 4 over par, and, with a demanding Te Arai Links layout ahead of him, Swanwick had a lot of work just to get himself back into contention.
Fast forward just over 48 hours and Swanwick finds himself with a two-shot lead as the prestigious championship enters the final day with so much at stake.
Swanwick’s birdies at the last three holes on Thursday played a big role in both his position on the leaderboard and the momentum needed as he entered round two, and when he signed for a round of 67 on Friday he was very much a contender.
Today, in improved but still breezy conditions on one of New Zealand’s now flagship layouts, Swanwick put together an impressive five-birdie, one-bogey round of 67, which included a final nine of 33, and when he finished he stood two ahead of long-time leader, Fifa Laopakdee and Cooper Moore who were playing in the group behind but with an opportunity to close the gap at the reachable par 5 18th.
Both Moore and Laopakdee would, however, miss very makeable birdie chances, and they head into tomorrow’s final round two behind Swanwick and two ahead of the only other player under par for the 54 holes to date, Kaito Sato of Japan.
In a share of 5th place are Australian Harry Takis, who himself has made an impressive comeback from a slow start to the week and may not yet be out of things, and another New Zealander Zach May.
Swanwick made what might turn out to be a crucial birdie at the last after finding the sandy area left of the fairway at the par five and deciding to lay up instead of taking on a risky line to the green, and he was rewarded with an outstanding shot from 130 metres or so to set up a 12-foot birdie which he converted.
“Saw it go left, not in the best spot but got lucky with the lie,” said Swanwick describing his final hole. “After a bad shot, the last thing you don’t want to do is hit another one. Just lay up. If I had a shot at birdie on the last hole, I would be happy. Hit a nice little iron shot and made the putt.
“Nice way to finish. Yeah, looking forward to tomorrow. Be a cool opportunity.”
With just four players under par and 13 over par making the cut for the leading 65, the outstanding layout has proven to be a fine test for the field of 120 and tomorrow the final round will test the nerve and skill of those four and perhaps one or two more who look to claim the prestigious Asia Pacific Amateur title and the much-sought-after starts at the 2027 Masters Tournament and Open Championship.
LEADERBOARD
Defending champion Laopakdee under siege from New Zealanders at Asia Pacific
Leader, Fifa Laopakdee, during his morning round on day two – image AAC
Defending champion Fifa Laopakdee was unable to reproduce the magic of his day one 63 in today’s second round of the 2026 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at the Te Arai Links north of Auckland in New Zealand, but his one-over-par round of 72 in demanding, breezy, conditions has him at 7 under par, his three-shot opening-round lead, however, is now reduced to just two over New Zealand’s Cooper Moore
Playing early on day two, Laopakdee reached the turn in 2 under 34, but dropped shots at four of the next five holes, surrounded by a birdie at his 12th hole, saw him finish at 1 over for the day, but his effort has him very well placed as the event heads into the weekend.
“Yeah, as you can see, it’s a little windy,” said Laopakdee with a smile. “Didn’t expect it in the morning, though, but we’ll see how it plays in the afternoon. Overall, it was a grind out there for me. Had a great front nine, shot 2‑under par, then back nine, just didn’t make any putts.
“Got two 3‑putts and then, coming down the stretch, had a great chance of birdies, but I just missed all of them. But if you asked me, like, just all week, I would take 7‑under for the first two rounds, I would take it, definitely, and I think I’m in good position for the weekend.”
Moore was out more than 4 hours after Laopakdee had finished his round and at 1 over par through 10 holes in the increasingly blustery conditions and four from the lead, his chances of challenging Laopakdee appeared slim. The Christchurch golfer, however, holed a lengthy birdie putt at the 16th and then produced some short-game wizardry on the final hole, adding one last birdie to move within two of the lead.
“Yeah, really proud of myself after that,” said Moore, referring to his comeback from a relatively slow start. “Obviously it’s windy; I made a lot of putts. Didn’t hole many putts, and then to finish with two birdies in my last three is good momentum to go into the weekend.”
Moore has already shown a capacity to contend in a significant event, finishing runner-up at the New Zealand PGA Championship in March, along with wins at the New Zealand Amateur and Australian Junior Amateur Championships.
Cooper Moore – in action today -image courtesy of AAC
In third place and three from the lead is another of the nine strong New Zealand team in the event, Ryan Xie, whose round of 71 included a 45-foot eagle putt after driving the green at the 3rd hole after bogeys at his opening two holes. Xie will play collegiate golf at Santa Clara University in California in the 2026/2027 season.
“It was stupid tough out there,” said Xie, referring to the conditions. “Just try to keep the ball as low as you can. Let the wind do its thing and just get it close”.
Ryan Xie – during today’s second round – image courtesy of AAC
One of Laopkdee’s playing partners over the opening two days has been New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick, and after a slow start yesterday where he was four over par through six holes, the second highest ranked player in the field finished off round one with three consecutive birdies which built important momentum for his second round of 67 to be at 3 under, four from the lead and alone in 4th place.
Swanwick was clearly delighted to have bounced back into contention.
“Pretty happy,” said Swanwick after his round. “It’s been a rough few weeks for the game. It’s a bit of confidence for the week and looking forward to it.”
When asked what had made the difference between his disappointing start, his late comeback on day one and his round today Swanwick replied; “Just the ball flight. I kept hitting high shots when I should have been hitting knockdowns. Went back to that on range yesterday and kept the flight down, ball control and helped a lot.”
Both Laopkdee and Swanwick also attend college in the US, Laopkdee at Arizona State and Swanwick at Florida State.
Queensland’s Harrison Gomez leads the Australians in a share of 8th place at even par.
The cut fell at a massive 13 over, a reflection of the demanding, blustery conditions on the stunning Te Arai Links.
Leaderboard
Asia Pacific Amateur showcases stunning Te Arai Links
The stunning backdrop at Te Arai Links – image Asia Pacific Amateur Championship
The Asia Pacific Amateur Championship will be played for the 17th time this week, when the event gets underway on Thursday at the highly regarded South Course at Te Arai Links at Mangawhai Heads, north of Auckland.
First played in 2009 when won by South Korean Hang Chang at the Mission Hills Golf Club in China, the event brings together 120 players from 39 different countries from the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, with not only this increasingly prestigious title up for grabs but also a start at the 2027 Masters Tournament and Open Championship, provided the winner remains an amateur.
The most successful of those who have won the title is undoubtedly Hideki Matsuyama, who won two of the first three editions of the event and then made the cut at the Masters on both occasions as an amateur before turning professional and winning the event in 2021.
China has the most victories in the event, with its golfers winning on five occasions, Japan and Australia have four each, South Korea two and Thailand one.
The South Course at Te Arai was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and promises to provide a brilliant centrepiece of the coverage this week, given its location alongside the Pacific Ocean and the backdrop of several islands framing the scene.
The two leading world-ranked amateur male players in the field, are both Australasian. Queenslander, Harry Takis, now at college in the US, is the highest ranked, followed by New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick, another US college attendee, and so the opportunity exists for Australia to join China as the leading country in terms of wins in the event, while a win by Swanwick would provide New Zealand with their first win and in their homeland.
Harry Takis in practice today – image APAC
New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick during a media conference today – image APAC
Defending champion, Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand, who won in Dubai last year, is the third highest ranked amateur in the field.
The incentive of a victory providing access to both the Masters and the Open Championship has proven a great opportunity for young emerging golfers to compete against the world’s elite; the efforts by 2010 and 2011 champion Matsuyama and 2012 champion Guan Tianlang to make the cut at Augusta National are of particular note.
The inclusion in the Open Championship field for the winner was added in 2018, after an invitation to Final Qualifying only was previously available.
Funded almost totally by Augusta National, which uses the significant funds generated by the Masters Tournament to support the game internationally, including this and other leading amateur events such as the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and Latin America Amateur Championships.
The event is played over 72 holes with a cut to the leading 60 players through 36 holes.
Tee Times
Guan Tianlang’s underrated Augusta National performance
Guan Tianlang being interviewed by this writer during his 2012 Asia Pacific Amateur win
There is no doubt Guan was desperately slow, as I witnessed at Amata Springs while I was on the course with him, but whichever way you look at it, making the cut against the world’s elite golfers, at such a tender age, was a stunning performance.
Ryan Fox shares 4th place at Genesis Championship
Yuto Katsugarawa – image courtesy of Getty Images
Ryan Fox was perhaps a little disappointing in his closing nine of 1 over par 36 on day four of the Genesis Championship in Cheonan, South Korea, but his share of 4th place behind the winner, Yuto Katsugarawa of Japan (pictured courtesy of Getty Images), has kept the New Zealander in 6th place in the Race to Dubai rankings as the DP World Tour looks to the Abu Dhabi Championship beginning on Nov 5th, the first of its playoffs in Abu Dhabi.
Katsugarawa’s timely win allowed him to move from outside the top 100 to 28th in the Race to Dubai rankings, and for the young man whose only win on the Japan or DP World Tour came when winning the ISPS Handa Championship two years ago, the victory opens up a range of possibilities in Europe in the foreseeable future.
The leading 70 players in the Race to Dubai rankings will now advance to the Abu Dhabi Championship in ten days time, the first of two Playoff events, with Ryan Fox in 6th place, Daniel Hillier (7th) Min Woo Lee 47th and Adam Scott 49th all eligible to take their place in the field in Abu Dhabi.
Hillier’s last-round 66 today to finish in a share of 11th place, will improve him one position to 7th in the Race to Dubai ranking and he and Fox are assured of advancing to the top 50 to make the DP World Tour Championship in two weeks.
Fox began the final round four behind the leader, Katsugarawa, and two birdies in his first few holes had closed the gap to three, but Fox was unable to close the gap further on the way to the clubhouse, a bogey at the 17th costing him any chance of placing pressure on the eventual winner.
Fox will, however, retain a chance of closing the gap on the current Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra in Abu Dhabi ahead of the final event of the season in Dubai beginning on Nov 12th.
Footnote – Ryan Fox will not play in Abu Dhabi but will play the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai
Results
Nick Voke records best finish of season in Hong Kong
RESULTS
Adam Bland turns back the clock in Adelaide
Adam Bland – with his Players Series SA trophyCongratulations to 44-year-old South Australian Adam Bland for his two-shot victory over Queensland’s, Louis Dobbelaar, in the PGA Tour of Australia’s Players Series South Australia event at the Willunga Golf Club south of Adelaide.
One of four leaders heading to today’s final round. Bland made an almost perfect start with three birdies in his first six holes and by the turn he held the advantage by two. As any potential challenger fell away over the closing nine holes, Bland stood firm with a final round of 67 to win and take what must have been an emotional victory, given his lack of success in Australia and that this win was in his home state.
Bland has won on the Canadian and Japan Tours, but that second win in Australia has proven elusive and that it has come at the age of 44 years of age, tells the story of a career resurrected.
Victorian amateur Jazy Roberts led the females in the mixed-gender event when she finished in a share of 11th.
RESULTS
Daniel Gale takes halfway lead in South Australia
Daniel Gale in action this week – image courtesy of PGA of Australia
NSW golfer Daniel Gale has the halfway lead at the Players Series South Australia event at the Willunga Golf Course south of Adelaide, the 30-year-old following up some recent good form, when runner-up in Kalgoorlie and 8th at Secret Harbour in the WA Open, with rounds of 64 and 65 on the low-scoring layout to be two ahead of Victorian Kyle Michel.
Michel’s second-round 63 is the best of the week so far, and the former good amateur, who has struggled at the professional level for much of his career, appears to have found some form after a horror year in 2025, when he missed twelve of fourteen cuts.
Gale, who has won three events on the PGA Tour of Australasia, found himself on the DP World Tour for a couple of seasons courtesy of his form in Australia. Still, he struggled there, but he has now recorded two runner-up finishes at home in 2026 and appears close to the sort of form which saw such a promising future three years ago.
“The ultimate goal is, I think, for anyone to win the order of merit,” said Gale. “To do that, you’ve got to play well in pretty much all of these and play well in the big ones when it counts because a lot of points are up for grabs there. So I feel like I’ve been off to a good start so far and just try to keep the same things rolling. I definitely want to get back out in Europe.
“I love my time over there and the golf over there. I reckon probably throughout the years, American golf I thought was obviously PGA Tour, everyone strives for that. But I mean if I could play Europe for the rest of my life, it’d be amazing. Just the countries over there and the culture, it’s so nice. Yeah, nice.”
“I want to say the form coming into this week, it’s been pretty steady and pretty solid. And to have obviously, the good results the last couple of weeks, anytime you have good results, it sparks the confidence. So feel like everything’s sort of close to clicking. I’ve had just rounds where it’s like three out of four things are clicking, but yeah, it feels like piecing the puzzle together nicely.”
South Australian veteran Adam Bland is alone in third place and three shots from the lead while a large group at 7 under and tie for 4th includes the leading female in this mixed gender event, Rachel Lee.
The cut fell at 2 under, with 53 players making it to the weekend.
Leaderboard
Daniel Hillier all but secures PGA Tour card
Daniel Hillier – file image courtesy of PGA of AmericaNew Zealander Daniel Hillier’s runner-up finish in this week’s DP World India Championship will all but ensure the 28-year-old Wellingtonian the right to play the PGA Tour in 2027.
Hillier’s second place behind Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra, will see him move up six places to 8th in the Race to Dubai rankings and likely as high as 5th from 10th in the race for one of the ten players to earn a PGA Tour card for 2027.
The leading ten players in the Race to Dubai rankings and not otherwise exempt on the PGA Tour gain access to the potential riches of US and Hillier looks well and truly on his way.
Hillier’s final round of 67 came on top of consecutive rounds of 64 on Friday and Saturday, and considering where he stood after his opening round of 74 on Thursday, his last 54 holes will play a big part in his future.
“Pretty tiring week,” said Hillier. “Obviously, few delays out there. Pretty hot, which I’m not usually a fan of.”I think I was like 4-over through 14 holes in the first round or something, and I don’t know what happened, what clicked. Yeah, I just started finding the clubface and holing a few putts. The rest is history.
“I think after that start I just kind of started free wheeling it a little bit. Maybe a little bit tense, trying to get a little bit too much coming back from a pretty good week last year at the same joint.
“Yeah, obviously wanted to do well again. Yeah, I think once I got off to that start it kind of freed me up a little bit. I mean, just keep going after that first 8-under. To do it back to back and follow it up with a pretty good one at the end is pretty cool.
“I don’t know if that will solidify it (PGA Tour card) or not, but trying to play my best golf, and, yeah, if I can solidify the card it would be amazing. Yeah, great to focus on getting to America next year.”
With just the Genesis Championship in Korea, followed by the Abu Dhabi and DP World Championships to finish the season, Hillier looks to be well on his way to the PGA Tour, following his near miss on one of the cards nearly twelve months ago.
Hillier, who earlier this year won his own national open in Queenstown, has had yet another impressive season with now three runner-up finishes in big events on the DP World Tour in 2026, including the British Masters, the Dubai Invitational and, now, this event.
Chacarra’s win, his third of the season, sweeps him to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings ahead of Patrick Reed.