Connor McKinney in action in round two – photo AAC
Perth’s Connor McKinney is just one off the halfway lead at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, the 19-year-old Scottish born golfer, reeling off a round of 65 over the Dubai Creek layout to trail only China’s Bo Jin at the completion of 36 holes.
McKinney, who moved to Australia with his family six years ago, heads the six strong Australian contingent in the prestigious event in which the winner receives a start at the Masters and the Open Championship in 2022.
The highlight of McKinney’s round came at the par 5 13th where he pitched in for eagle from 103 yards and although he bogeyed the 15th to drop out of what would have been a share of the lead he is delighted with his position.
“Yes, I am just where I wanted to be after 36 holes,” said McKinney. “I got off to a pretty good start. I holed a couple of good putts. I played pretty solid and didn’t put myself in any bad positions. If I did, I recovered pretty well.
“At the start of the week, I thought it would be pretty cool (to win this event). I’m in a great position to do it but still 36 to go. Just sticking to the game plan, doing what I do.”
Although how representing Australia, McKinney’s heritage is very much Scottish, having been born and raised in Fife and having played much of his formative golf in the British Isles even in more recent years.
Just two years ago as a 17-year-old McKinney represented Great Britain and Ireland in a Boys match against Europe but he is now in the Australian camp. In 2021 McKinney has also played several events in the US where his best finish included a 3rd place finish at the Southern Amateur Championship.
Two shots behind McKinney, is yet another Perth golfer, Hayden Hopewell, who added a round of 69 to his opening 68 to be three from the lead and tied for 10th.
Victorian Lukas Michel is another shot back in a share of 15th place although the former US Mid Amateur Champion will be ruing dropping threes shots at the final two holes including a double bogey at the last after finding the water to drop four shots from the halfway lead.
All six of the Australians made the cut restricted to the leading 50 players and ties.
Andree Lautee is tied for 22nd, while Lachlan Barker and Haydn Barron are tied for 41st at 1 over and nine shots from the lead.
New Zealand’s only competitor in the event, Jimmy Zheng is also well enough placed in a share of 15th and just four from the lead. Two late birdies saw him recover from a slow start on day two for a round of even par 71 after he had opened with a round of 67 on Wednesday.
“I’m definitely going to take notes from today’s round,” said Zheng. “I’m going to work on keeping myself calm and stable, throughout the round. I started off a bit fiery, trying to make multiple birdies. It didn’t really work out that well. I will just stick to my game plan and stay calm and try to keep the ball close to the hole, while keeping it safe at the same time.”
The leader, Bo Jin is the younger brother of Cheng Jin, winner of the 2015 AAC at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in Hong Kong. A sophomore at Oklahoma State University, Bo also happens to be a very good friend of Rayhan Thomas, the 2018 AAC runner-up who holds the course record at Dubai Creek.
At the Mena Tour’s Dubai Creek Open in 2017, Thomas fired a 61 that included a record-breaking run of nine consecutive birdies in a professional tournament.
“I have learned a lot from Cheng but when we get to the golf course, I definitely want to beat him. When he won the championship, I was so excited because it meant that I could go to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club along with him.
“Obviously, he hasn’t told me much about this golf course but I get plenty of good insight into life and golf from him and yes, I want to win the championship like he did,” said Jin, who made five birdies on the back nine.
“The biggest change from the first round was the double bogey I made on the ninth hole yesterday. It was mental mistakes really. And I am happy that I did not repeat them today.”
World number one amateur, Japan’s Keita Nakajima, is just one off the lead and also tied for second place while two time winner of the event, Yuxin Lin, is tied for 15th and four behind the leader.
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Kelsey Bennett’s valiant attempt in Abu Dhabi falls just short
Kelsey Bennett begins her final round today – photo Paul LakatosR&A Media via Getty Images
New South Wales golfer Kelsey Bennett today produced a valiant attempt to become Australia’s first Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Champion, falling just one shot short of a playoff with the eventual winner, Mizuki Hashimoto, at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the UAE today.
Bennet’s final round of 68 left her in a share of second place with long-time leader Natthakrita Vongtaveelap of Thailand and her fellow countrywoman Kan Bunnabodee, one shot behind Hashimoto who continued a remarkable year for Japanese golf.
Japan has now won the 2021 Masters, the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship, the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship and the US Women’s Open amongst the many titles their golfers have won worldwide, this event a major steppingstone to a successful professional career.
In the short-term, however, the title provides access to the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the AIG Women’s Open Championship, the Amundi Evian Championship and the Hana Financial Group Championship.
While no doubt disappointed at being unable to find the extra birdie she needed to force a playoff, Bennett will be delighted with a week which saw her contending throughout.
After starting the day four behind the lead and bogeying her opening hole on day four, Bennett did well to be just two behind both Hashimoto and Vongtavveelap at the turn.
The 21-year-old from Mollymook on the South Coast of New South Wales birdied the 11th and 13th to draw within one but despite creating further opportunities she was unable to convert two key chances at the 17th and 18th holes.
Still, her performance should prove a key week in her development as a golfer and will install a lot of confidence in her own ability to handle the big moments in the manner she did.
Today was really good,” said Bennett. “I was happy with the way I played. Obviously a few more putts could have dropped, but I held it very well. I was nervous coming in the last few holes.
“After the first bogey on the first hole I was thinking it’s not very good. But I managed to come back.
“The biggest thing I was proud of, what I take out of this (the event overall) is how calm I felt I was. Even when I did make a couple of bogeys and that double on the first day, I thought there’s plenty of holes to go, just take it easy and pace yourself rather than getting upset about it.
“I bounced off all the other girls that were playing there as well. So it was really good. I loved the experience, it was great.”
The key periods of play on day four were when Hashimoto holed out for eagle at the par 4 3rd and then followed up with a fine tee shot at the 4th to set up a birdie to be just one shot behind Vongtaveelap.
When the Thai golfer bogeyed the 6th and then found the water and took double bogey at the 7th, she had fallen behind Hashimoto but she responded in fine style with an eagle at the 9th and she and Hashimoto began the back nine tied at 15 under and two ahead of Bennett.
Standing on the 18th tee, Hashimoto was one ahead of Vongtaveelap and Bennett but when Vongtaveelap found the water from the tee, it appeared her chance was gone. She would find the green from long range with her 3rd after taking relief but was unable to hole from 28 feet, leaving Bennett as the only player capable of changing the outcome of the event.
Bennett missed the green left with her second to the par 5 but her pitch from a tricky lie would come up some 20 feet short and when she was unable to hole that, then Hashimoto had two putts to win from 15 feet which she was able to do to take the title.
Queensland’s Cassie Porter finished 10th after a final round of 74 but it was an excellent week for the Sunshine Coast golfer who only recently returned to tournament golf after time away caused by back issues.
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The winner Mizuka Hashimoto – photo Paul Lakatos R&A Media via Getty Images
Bennett and Porter keep Australian hopes alive in Abu Dhabi
Porter (left) and Bennett before their third round today – Photo R&A Paul Lakatos via Getty Images
Australians Kelsey Bennet and Cassie Porter have kept the chances of a first Australian victory at the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship alive, the pair four and five shots respectively behind the leader Natthakritta Vongtaveelap of Thailand ahead of tomorrow’s fourth and final round in Abu Dhabi.
NSW’s, Bennett, added a third round of 69 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club and at one stage briefly joined the lead at 11 under when she recorded the third of three consecutive birdies at the 8th before her playing partners birdied the same hole to move one ahead.
Bennett was unable to secure another birdie through a frustrating closing 10 holes but at 11 under she is just four back and will once again play in the final group tomorrow in the hope that she can contend for a title which is not only one of female amateur golf’s finest but one that brings significant benefits.
The winner tomorrow earns the right to play the Amundi Evian Championship in France, the AIG Women’s Open Championship at Muirfield, the Hana Financial Group Championship on the Korean LPGA Tour and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship next April.
“I had a lot of opportunities and just could not get them to drop today but hopefully tomorrow will be the day,” said Bennett.
“I just holed those three birdies with some decent putting, which was good. I had three in a row, and then that was it. At least par trends aren’t too bad.
“I’m feeling pretty good. I think I’d rather be a couple back heading into the last round rather than being in front. So I am looking forward to it.”
Porter, from the Sunshine Coast, only returned to tournament golf earlier this year after a lengthy injury break from the game that had been initially diagnosed as a stress fracture of the back.
“So probably about two years ago now, I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in my lower back, and they treated it as a stress fracture for probably 12 months,” said Porter when asked about the injury.”Then we found out it wasn’t.
“I still have the stress fracture, but we found out that wasn’t causing the pain. It was just tight glutes and hammies. I’ve got a good physio on board, so she’s helping me out, which is really nice. I’m just grateful to be here playing pain free.”
Porter was frustrated by a putter that refused to convert many of the opportunities she was creating for herself during her round of 68 today but she has kept in touch and heads into tomorrow’s final round five shots behind the leader but only two shots out of second place currently held by Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto.
“As I said yesterday, there are a lot of opportunities out there that I just didn’t capitalize on, but at the end of the day, it’s 4-under. I can’t really be disappointed,” added Porter.
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The 19 year old Natthakritta Vongtaveelap of Thailand leads by three. Photo R&A Paul Lakatos via Getty
NSW’s Kelsey Bennett two from lead at Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific
Kelsey Bennett in action this week – photo R&A Graham Uden
NSW’s Kelsey Bennett, from the Mollymook Golf Club on the South Coast, finds herself just two shots from the lead at the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Bennet who in 2021 has won the Tasmanian Open and NT Amateur Championships, kept the door open for possible success in this prestigious event as the championship enters the final 36 holes at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, home of the Abu Dhabi event on the European Tour.
Bennett who plays much of her golf as a member of the St Michael’s Golf Club in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, where she is coached by John Serhan, closed with a final nine of 32 today for a round of 67 to add to her opening 69 and she tied for 2nd place and just two behind the halfway leader, Natthakrita Vongtaveelap of Thailand.
The 21-year-old nearly missed her tee time on day one after losing concentration during her pre-round putting preparation, perhaps contributing to an early double bogey on day one so she has done well to recover and put herself in contention.
“I was struggling on the front nine,” said Bennett referring to her slow start today. “Putting just didn’t feel quite right, but I got the hang of it on the back nine. I birdied 10, and it just sort of started me off. Hit a few close wedges, which were handy.
“This is my first major amateur event, so I haven’t really thought about it too much which is obviously a good thing. So, I’ll keep it that way.”
The Sunshine Coast’s Cassie Porter is also well in the mix after consecutive rounds of 69 have her at 6 under, four off the lead but tied for 5th place.
Porter who has been away from the game through back injury for over a year returned recently and won the Keperra Bowl event in Brisbane recently.
“Yeah, it’s been alright, pretty consistent,” said Porter. “It’s all about capitalizing on opportunities when they present themselves out there. I probably could have done a little bit better today, but you can’t say you’re unhappy with a 3-under.
Perth’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard is tied for 45th after consecutive rounds of 73 and she along with Bennett and Porter are the only Australians to make the final 36 holes, albeit only just.
New Zealanders Belinda May and Caitlin Cotterill are also tied in 45th place and the only two of the five from their country to make it through.
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Women’s turn at Asia Pacific Amateur Championship
Australia’s Maddison Hinson Tolchard – in practice today – photo Paul Lakatos R&A
The Middle East hosts yet another of the world’s leading amateur golf events this week when the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship is played at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Just a few days after the completion of the 12th Asia Pacific Men’s Championship for men in nearby Dubai, the women’s equivalent is played for the third occasion, Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul and Japan’s Yuka Yasuda having been the winners in the opening two stagings of the event in 2018 and 2019.
Yasuda is now playing on the Japan LPGA Tour while Thitikul has dominated the Ladies European Tour in 2021, leading its Order of Merit, winning twice and recording five top tens this year, three of those in LPGA Tour events, reflecting the role the event has already played in developing the careers of aspiring amateurs from the Asia Pacific region.
The winner of the event earns a start at the AIG Women’s Open and The Amundi Evian Championship, (both majors) and the Hana Bank Championship along with an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
While the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship for men is essentially run by Augusta National, this event comes under greater control by the R&A and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation although Augusta National do play a role in some of the funding of the event.
Five Australians and five New Zealanders get their chance in the 78 player field, the highest world ranked of them being Perth’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, although she is currently ranked 186th in the women’s world rankings.
Several higher ranked Australians were not available as they had committed for a range of reasons including attempting qualifying to play the LPGA Tour or were restricted by Covid 19 issues.
Hinson-Tolchard, who is currently studying at Oklahoma State University where she has performed with distinction, will be joined by fellow Australians, NSW’s Kelsey Bennet, and June Song (who is at Iowa State University) and Queensland’s Isabelle Taylor (Oregon State University) and Cassie Porter.
New Zealand’s highest ranked player in the field is Caitlin Maurice (studying at Sacramento State) who will be joined by Shani White (University of Louisiana) Bridget Connolly (Morehead State University) Caitlin Cotterell (Furman University in South Carolina) and Belinda May (University of South Alabama.
The event will be played from Wednesday 10th to Saturday 13th of November.
No joy for Australians at Korn Ferry Tour final qualifying
Harrison Endycott – file photo
The three Australians who attempted to gain improved status on the Korn Ferry Tour this week have failed in that quest, Jason Scrivener, Harrison Endycott and Justin Warren all finishing outside the all important top 40 who would earn at least eight guaranteed starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022.
Scrivener and Warren had played their way into the final via Stage Two qualifying while Endycott finished 81st in the Korn Ferry Tour in 2021 and played the Qualifying Final as a result.
All three now have conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 and are likely assured of the occasional start via attrition but they are also eligible to attempt Monday qualifying for each event although as can be imagined that is very much a hit and miss affair.
Endycott will likely get a few additional starts to his fellow Australians because of his Korn Ferry Tour standing in 2021.
Perth’s Scrivener, who is currently in 16th place in the Road to Dubai standings on the European tour, was no doubt keen to gain access to the PGA Tour which only the Korn Ferry Tour can now provide but he could only finish 63rd this week and will no doubt focus much of his attention back in Europe next year.
Endycott, who was a member of the Australian Eisenhower Trophy winning team in Mexico in 2016, has played the Korn Ferry Tour in each of the last two years but he had a tough week finishing 80th after a fast start on Thursday.
The Sydney golfer has yet to win as a professional, but he has been three times runner-up in events on the PGA Tour of Australasia and the South American Tour but to date his professional career has not lived up to his success in amateur golf.
He will be forced to play the events in which he can gain a start and try to get others via the precarious Monday qualifying process.
Justin Warren, from Picton south and west of Sydney, did well to make the final stage but he would finish last in this week’s field and is resigned to Monday qualifying for events in 2022.
The winner of this week’s event and a golfer who earns exemption to all Korn Ferry Tour events in 2022 was Zach Fischer who interestingly enough won the Final Stage of qualifying several years ago.
Fischer had contemplated giving the game away recently but after graduating through Stage Two two weeks ago he has now earned the right to play a full season on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“I don’t know what the stats are, but I really wanted to win Q-School twice just for my mental side, said Fischer. “I haven’t won a tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour, but I’ve gotten Q-School twice. Hopefully I can change that.
“Hopefully we can win an event this next year. To win it in California and then in Georgia, all the way on the other side of the country, is really cool, too. And also it’s really cool, our head pro at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, he came from The Landings. He was at Deer Creek, had a good — had to give him a shout-out for hooking me up with some housing. What an awesome week. Can’t say enough for the golf course, the staff. It was just incredible.”
Steve Alker Confirms PGA Tour Champions card with win in Florida
Alker in full flight today – photo PGA Tour
New Zealand’s Steve Alker has continued a remarkable run on the PGA Tour Champions when breaking through for victory at the Timber Tech Championship in Boca Raton in Florida today.
Alker played his first PGA Tour Champions event in August when Monday qualifying for an event in Washington State and in each and every start since has finished inside the top ten securing a start for the following week as a result.
Alker’s victory takes him to 22nd place in the Charles Schwab Cup points standing, earning him a start at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in his home state of Phoenix but more importantly confirming his full status on the 2022 PGA Tour Champions.
Given how demanding it is just to get a start on the PGA Tour Champions never mind full status, it has been a remarkable elevation for the 50-year-old and opens the door for significant earnings over the next few years on the PGA Tour Champions, especially given a game that is built around percentages.
Alker’s final round of 68 at the Old Course at Broken Sound was confirmed with a delightful pitch from a grassy lie adjacent to the green to less than a foot and the typically understated Alker could not help but produce several fist pumps given the magnitude of what he had achieved over the last few months.
“Yeah, 50’s good. I’m still feeling pretty good, I’m in decent shape,” said Alker. It’s just exciting, a new chapter for me. Coming off the Korn Ferry Tour, I’ve been doing the hard yards there, but at the same time it was good preparation for me coming out here. As I said, all my ducks are in a row and just happened to be this week.”
“I thought, well, if I can come out and do many some Mondays, Tuesdays, do some events and try to qualify and get some events under my belt, that would be great,” added Alker when asked to assess the last three months. “To be standing here and talking to you guys with a win, it’s amazing.”
“I think it’s just all about wanting to be out here, just some good focus on trying to play some good golf. I’ve been out here amongst these guys, it’s been amazing. They’ve been so welcoming, and my game’s coming around at the right time. There’s a lot of things that have happened, just mentally in a good place, getting all the ducks in a row and boom, that’s what happened.”
Alker won by two over Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jim Furyk.
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Hillier and Windred miss European Tour cards via Challenge Tour
Blake Windred – file photo European Tour
New Zealander Daniel Hillier and New South Wales’ Blake Windred have missed out on an opportunity to earn European Tour cards for 2022 by finishing well back in the final event of the 2021 European Challenge Tour in Mallorca.
Players needed to finish inside the top 20 in the season long Road to Mallorca rankings to gain one of the highly sought-after cards for next season, but with Windred finishing 33rd in the 45 player field this week and Hillier 36th they have slipped to 41st and 23rd respectively.
Both players will earn some starts in lesser events on the European Tour but after reaching 18th in the standings following his recent win in Spain Hillier especially will be disappointed not to have played his way onto to bigger stage.
Hillier was well enough placed to consolidate his potion after an opening round of 69 this week but things would get worse from there, eventually finishing 14 shots from the winner, Marcus Helligkilde.
Windred saved his best to last, a final round of 70 improving him to 33rd this week but not enough to threaten the chance to play the European Tour.
Both players have full access to the Challenge Tour again next year mixed with some European Tour starts.
Lydia Ko’s impressive 2021 continues in Saudi Arabia
Lydia Ko – photo Ladies European Tour
Twelve months ago Lydia Ko was languishing in 40th place in the Rolex World Ranking, having slipped outside the top 50 earlier in 2020.
Today the 24-year-old New Zealander won her second tournament of 2021 and along with a remarkably consistent run this year which has seen her record another ten top tens, her emphatic victory in Saudi Arabia should see her move close to the top five in the women’s game.
Her five shot victory at the Ladies European Tour’s Saudi Ladies International adds another US$130,000 to her bank account but importantly has her continued her return to the top of the world ranking, a position she last held in June of 2017 after becoming the youngest ever No 1 in 2015.
The event was a Ladies European Tour event, but it featured several LPGA Tour players, the US$1 million purse and no doubt an appearance fee of some sort for a player of Ko’s calibre, an attraction to an event being played in a region where controversy reigns in terms of that country’s involvement in international professional sport.
Ko, however, dominated the tournament from day one, sharing the lead first round lead with Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, leading by two after day two and then leading by four after her third round of 63 split the field apart.
Taking a four-shot lead over the brilliant Thai youngster and the LET’s dominant player in 2021, Atthaya Thitikul, into today’s final round, Ko closed the door completely with an outward nine of 31 and although Thitikul herself had reached the turn in 32, it was essentially all over by then.
“When I was out there, I was just trying to play the best golf that I can,” said Ko. “I knew a lot of the top names were playing really well and this is a golf course where there’s a fair amount of birdies, so I was just trying to have my fair share of them and have fun out there.
“It helps when you’re going into the final round with a four-shot cushion, you could shoot the same score as others, but you have those shots from the last three days.
“I birdied the first hole and holed two really good putts for par on two and three which really set the momentum up, and from there I tried not to look back and just go forward.”
Thitikul confirmed her standing as the winner of the Race to Costa Del Sol the Ladies European Tour’s and her place as the 2021 Rookie of the Year on the LET.
West Australian Whitney Hillier finished in a share of 5th place this week, New South Wales’s Stephanie Kyriacou was tied for 7th and Minjee Lee 7th and Amy Walsh 63rd.
The Ladies European Tour has just one more event to play, that being the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open de Espana in two weeks’ time.
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Keita Nakajima claims Japan’s 4th Asia Pacific Amateur Championship
Keita Nakajima – photo courtesy of AAC
Japan’s Keita Nakajima has claimed a fourth Asia Pacific Amateur Championship for his country and became the third player from Japan to win the coveted title with a playoff victory over Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho in Dubai.
Both players had completed the 72 holes at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club at 14 under par but Nakajima, the No 1 ranked male amateur in the world, secured the title when he holed a 25 foot birdie at the second extra hole after Kho had found the water from a fairway bunker.
21 year old, Nakajima, joins Hideki Matsuyama (twice) and Takumi Kanaya on the honours list for Japan, taking that country ahead of China (3) as the nation with the most success in the 12 occasions the event has been played.
Amongst the many titles Nakajima has to his name in amateur golf is the 2018 Australian Amateur Championship which he won at Lake Karrinyup in Perth but he also won an event on the Japan Golf Tour this year when successful at the Panasonic Open two months ago.
“I am very proud of what I have achieved,” said the winner. “To follow in the footsteps of Hideki-san and Takumi feels great.”
“I am so excited that I will be playing three majors in 2022 (he is also exempt for the U.S. Open as part of winning the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the men’s World No. 1 in 2021 WAGR ®). I am very thankful to the tournament for giving us such great opportunities,” added Nakajima, who finished joint runner-up behind Kanaya in the 2018 edition in Singapore.
Nakajima threatened to run away with the title when he established an early three shot lead on day four but a bogey at the 6th was followed soon after by a double at the 9th and with Kho putting together a stunning round of 65 to follow his 64 on Friday the Hong Kong golfer, who studies at Notre dame University in the US, took the lead when he birdied the 11th to move ahead.
Kho was unable to secure the one extra birdie he needed to take the title however and when Nakajima recovered to birdie the 11th, 13th and 14th the pair headed for extra holes. Both parred the par 4 18th at the first playoff hole but when Kho, was awkwardly placed in the fairway bunker, found the water guarding the front of the green at the second and could mange no better than double bogey, it was all over.
The victory is further success for Japanese amateur golf and there is a strong Australian connection in that success as Adelaide’s Gareth Jones is the National Coach for Japan. Jones also guided one of the two Australians to win the event, Anthony Murdaca, when he won at Royal Melbourne in 2014.
Kho who attends Notre Dame University in the US was clearly disappointed not to claim to spoils of victory but was proud of what he had achieved, his performance the best by a Hong Kong player in the 12-year history of the event.
“I was three back and I knew the guys in the last group had the potential for going deep. I just knew if I focus on my own game, I could post a low one out there and I did exactly that. I just made a string of birdies and by the time I knew it I was in the lead with three to go. That was nerve-racking but at the same time I feel like I’ve prepared for that pretty well,” said Kho, ranked No. 220 in the WAGR®.
“I felt more comfortable this time. To be able to play well down the stretch gives me a lot of confidence going forward. I hit the shots I needed to hit. If I had the same shot again, I would choose the same club and thought process. I just didn’t execute this time. Keita won with a birdie so I have no regrets with that decision.”
Victorian Andre Lautee was the leading Australian after a superb final 36 holes of 66 and 68 today to finish in a share of 7th with defending champion Yuxin Lin.
“I was quite happy with today’s finish. Played pretty solid. A lot of good shots out there. It was great the last two days to be able to post a few good scores,” said Lautee.
“It’s a world-class event. It’s nothing like I’ve ever played before. It’s perfectly run. The players get looked after so well. I’m looking forward to playing it again next year.”
Perth’s Connor McKinney was 18th, Perth’s Haydn Barron 21st, Victorian Lukas Michel, Perth’s Hayden Hopewell 26th and Adelaide’s Lachlan Barker 31st.
Jimmy Zheng was the only New Zealander in the event and finished 36th.
“It’s been a great experience,” said Zheng. “I learned a lot this week about my game and how I should prepare better next time. It was definitely a grind out there today.
“I’m going to work my butt off over the off-season at Duke. I’ll really get my game in the place I want it to be and hopefully come back again next year to grab that trophy.”
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Perth’s Connor McKinney one behind at Asia Pacific Amateur
Connor McKinney in action in round two – photo AAC
Perth’s Connor McKinney is just one off the halfway lead at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, the 19-year-old Scottish born golfer, reeling off a round of 65 over the Dubai Creek layout to trail only China’s Bo Jin at the completion of 36 holes.
McKinney, who moved to Australia with his family six years ago, heads the six strong Australian contingent in the prestigious event in which the winner receives a start at the Masters and the Open Championship in 2022.
The highlight of McKinney’s round came at the par 5 13th where he pitched in for eagle from 103 yards and although he bogeyed the 15th to drop out of what would have been a share of the lead he is delighted with his position.
“Yes, I am just where I wanted to be after 36 holes,” said McKinney. “I got off to a pretty good start. I holed a couple of good putts. I played pretty solid and didn’t put myself in any bad positions. If I did, I recovered pretty well.
“At the start of the week, I thought it would be pretty cool (to win this event). I’m in a great position to do it but still 36 to go. Just sticking to the game plan, doing what I do.”
Although how representing Australia, McKinney’s heritage is very much Scottish, having been born and raised in Fife and having played much of his formative golf in the British Isles even in more recent years.
Just two years ago as a 17-year-old McKinney represented Great Britain and Ireland in a Boys match against Europe but he is now in the Australian camp. In 2021 McKinney has also played several events in the US where his best finish included a 3rd place finish at the Southern Amateur Championship.
Two shots behind McKinney, is yet another Perth golfer, Hayden Hopewell, who added a round of 69 to his opening 68 to be three from the lead and tied for 10th.
Victorian Lukas Michel is another shot back in a share of 15th place although the former US Mid Amateur Champion will be ruing dropping threes shots at the final two holes including a double bogey at the last after finding the water to drop four shots from the halfway lead.
All six of the Australians made the cut restricted to the leading 50 players and ties.
Andree Lautee is tied for 22nd, while Lachlan Barker and Haydn Barron are tied for 41st at 1 over and nine shots from the lead.
New Zealand’s only competitor in the event, Jimmy Zheng is also well enough placed in a share of 15th and just four from the lead. Two late birdies saw him recover from a slow start on day two for a round of even par 71 after he had opened with a round of 67 on Wednesday.
“I’m definitely going to take notes from today’s round,” said Zheng. “I’m going to work on keeping myself calm and stable, throughout the round. I started off a bit fiery, trying to make multiple birdies. It didn’t really work out that well. I will just stick to my game plan and stay calm and try to keep the ball close to the hole, while keeping it safe at the same time.”
The leader, Bo Jin is the younger brother of Cheng Jin, winner of the 2015 AAC at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in Hong Kong. A sophomore at Oklahoma State University, Bo also happens to be a very good friend of Rayhan Thomas, the 2018 AAC runner-up who holds the course record at Dubai Creek.
At the Mena Tour’s Dubai Creek Open in 2017, Thomas fired a 61 that included a record-breaking run of nine consecutive birdies in a professional tournament.
“I have learned a lot from Cheng but when we get to the golf course, I definitely want to beat him. When he won the championship, I was so excited because it meant that I could go to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club along with him.
“Obviously, he hasn’t told me much about this golf course but I get plenty of good insight into life and golf from him and yes, I want to win the championship like he did,” said Jin, who made five birdies on the back nine.
“The biggest change from the first round was the double bogey I made on the ninth hole yesterday. It was mental mistakes really. And I am happy that I did not repeat them today.”
World number one amateur, Japan’s Keita Nakajima, is just one off the lead and also tied for second place while two time winner of the event, Yuxin Lin, is tied for 15th and four behind the leader.
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