Dubai(News Desk):: The 16th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship kicked off today, Thursday, at the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. With the participation of 120 of the region’s and the world’s most prominent golfers, the tournament, one of the world’s most prestigious amateur golf tournaments, will continue until Saturday, October 26.

The opening round witnessed remarkable performances by national team players Sam Mullan and Ahmed Skeik, who finished the first day in the top ten at the famous Majlis Stadium in Dubai.

The 22-year-old Mullan made his debut in the tournament with a strong showing that saw him top the UAE’s rankings, scoring six birdies to just one bogey, and finishing the first round with a total of 67 (five under par), placing him joint fourth overall.

This outstanding performance was the result of intensive preparations undertaken by the national team players over the past seven weeks. The team trained at Al Majlis Stadium three times a week in preparation for the tournament, which is being held in the UAE for the second time in its history.

Mullan emphasized that the national team players are participating this year with the goal of competing for the title, not simply to be among the region’s elite amateurs, saying, “I’m confident that one of us is capable of winning, especially since we know this stadium well. We want to prove that we’re capable of delivering a strong performance, and we’re not here just to get through the cut-throat stage.”

For his part, Ahmed Skaik, who is participating in the tournament for the seventh time in his career, finished the first round with a 68 (four under par), placing just behind his teammate Mullan. His round featured seven birdies, including four consecutive birdies starting on the second hole, but a double birdie on the ninth hole – the final hole of the round – prevented him from sharing the lead.

“I was very happy with my performance,” Skeik said after the end of the first day. “I played excellently throughout the round, but the double on the last hole bothered me a bit. I rushed it a bit, but it’s a learning experience, and I’ll accept a score of four under par, even though I hope for a better finish.”

The day also witnessed a special moment when Ahmed’s brother, Mohammed Skeik, officially opened the tournament with a birdie on the first hole in front of a packed crowd. He calmed his nerves early on with a birdie on the same hole, before finishing his round with a 73 (one over par) in his first tournament appearance.

The UAE players completed their first round results, with Ryan Ahmed finishing the round with a total of 72 strokes (par), while Jonathan Selvaraj scored 74 strokes (2+), and Rashid Al-Amadi scored 84 strokes (+12).

Thailand’s Viva Laopakdi, Australia’s Billy Dowling, and Vietnam’s Canh Hung Le led the opening round, finishing the first day with a total of six under par (66 each).

Laopakdi, a student at Arizona State University, is making his fourth appearance in the tournament, having finished fifth in the 2022 edition held in his home country. He entered the current tournament as the highest-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and impressed early in the day, scoring six birdies in his first nine holes.

“I’m very satisfied with my performance today,” Laopakdi said. “My first and final shots were solid, and I hit 17 greens. Except for one error on three consecutive shots, it was a perfect round from start to finish.”

Australian Billy Dowling, who finished 10th in his home country’s Asia-Pacific Championship last year at Royal Melbourne, also started strongly, scoring six birdies in the first 11 holes, before brilliantly saving himself from a potential bogey on the par-5 third hole.

“It was a pivotal moment,” said Dowling, who reached the quarter-finals of this year’s Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s. “I didn’t expect to hit that hard shot, but it gave me a huge boost to keep going.”

For his part, 17-year-old Vietnamese player Canh Hung Le, a recent graduate of the University of Illinois, is aiming to continue the strong performance of Vietnamese players in the tournament, following his compatriot Anh Minh Nguyen’s seventh-place finish in the 2022 edition, his country’s best-ever finish.

“I feel a great sense of patriotism when I represent my country in this tournament,” he said. “I hope to achieve victory not only for myself but for all golf fans in Vietnam.”

On the first day of the tournament, it was announced that New Zealand will host the 17th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which will be held at the South Course at Te Arai Links in Tomarata from October 29 to November 1, 2026.

The announcement came during a press conference held at the Emirates Golf Club, attended by Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament; Marc Darbonne, Chief Executive of The R&A; and Taimur Hassan, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Golf Federation.

Mark Darbonne said on the occasion: “We are delighted to be bringing the tournament back to New Zealand and hosting it for the first time at Te Arai Links, one of the most beautiful golf courses in the region. Our goal is to continue supporting and developing emerging golf talent in the Asia-Pacific, and we look forward to an exceptional edition in 2026.”

The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship continues for three more days until next Saturday, with decisive rounds expected to determine the champion who will receive an official wild card to participate in the 2026 Masters Tournament, along with a direct exemption from qualifying for the 154th Open, in an exciting finale eagerly awaited by golf fans around the world.

-It’s over-