Chonburi, Thailand – From 27-30 October 2022, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships will return to Amata Springs Golf Club in Chon Buri, Thailand, a decade later. Looking back, the 2012 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships at Amateur Spa Club Atlas are a classic.
Many of that year's players have become the most successful professional players in AAC's 13-year history. Despite the outstanding 12 AAC titles in the past, the 2012 Amata Spa has produced a number of star players who have achieved success in the professional arena and become the benchmark for AAC amateur youngsters.
Flashes back in time to 2012, when Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who won the AAC twice in 2010 and 2011, is looking forward to a third title in this arena; Australia's Cameron Smith, who finished fourth in 2011 and three strokes behind Matsuyama, tried to win the amateur tournament in 2012.
However, while Matsuyama and Smith have attracted a lot of attention, more voices have been left to Australian Oliver Goss. "Of course, Hideki was a big star, but the name we all talked about that year was Gus," said Udayan Mane, one of India's six players who played in AAC that year. He tied for 32nd at AAC 2012 and is now an outstanding professional player, receiving the PGTI Rolex Medal of Honour from the India Tour in 2021.
Two other AAC entrants from the 2012 were also awarded the honor: Khalin Joshi from Thailand, tied for 14th that year, received the 2018 PGTI Medal of Honor; Mane's compatriot Chikkarangappa S, India, finished 12th in the 2012 race and was the winner of the 2015 PGTI Medal of Honor.
"I don't think we heard Guan Tianlang's name when we were preparing for the game. However, the 14-year-old won the game, even though he stood on the tee and was the youngest of the bunch. It's a great lesson for all of us and you can win in a variety of ways on the golf course. Mane recalled.
Gus finished third that week, three strokes behind Guan Tianlang and two strokes behind another future superstar, Chinese Taipei's Pan Zhengchun. Matsuyama finished fourth, his only game without a win at AAC, while Smith finished tied for seventh. Two future PGA Tour members: Australia's Brett Drewitt and China's Dou Zecheng, were tied for 7th and 18th at the 2012 AAC.
After winning the AAC title in 2012, Kwan rewrote the Augusta National Golf Club record the following spring, becoming the youngest player to compete in the Masters and successfully advance at the age of 14. Hideki Matsuyama turned professional and won the US Masters in 2021, while Smith won the 150th British Open in St. Andrews in 2022. Pan is also already a PGA Tour champion, and at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he defeated Rory McIlroy and Colin Morikawa in the overtime to win bronze medals for Chinese Taipei.
"After ten years, AAC has come to Amata Springs again, and I hope my Chinese friends will achieve good results here and bring the trophy back to China again," Guan said.
This year, seven Chinese players competed: Ding Wenyi, Du Rangzhi, Zheng Yunhe, Bloomberg, and Jimbo have all participated in the past AAC, and Jimbo is still the third runner-up in the 2021 event, creating the best record of AAC Chinese players last year; Zhou Ziqin and Bai Xiangyun, two rookies, are playing for the first time. But no matter who it is, everyone is actively preparing for the competition and hope to give their all in this arena and create good results.
"The people who can participate in this competition are all top players, everyone is worthy of respect, they are very strong players, including myself. I believe that everyone will present their best state! Bai Xiangyun said. Zhou Ziqin said: "It is very lucky to be able to participate in AAC, I will try to win the championship to participate in this competition, don't have too much thought in the game, and keep the best state and actively strive for it!" ”
There is no doubt that the 2012 Asia Pacific Amateur Championships are a classic event. The emergence of these star players is also inseparable from the great arena. Few golf courses are as challenging as the par 72 Amata Springs course, which has a fairway of over 6,675 meters. The 150-yard par 17, surrounded by water on all sides, features a real island green, one of the most unique holes in Asia. In the game, after the player has finished the ball, he also needs to take a boat to this green floating in the middle of the water.
As a venue, the championship-level Amata Spa tests players in every aspect from swing distance to accuracy. For AAC players, playing with such high standards and strict requirements helps them perceive the standards of the golf competition venue and prepare them for a career in the future.
2021 AAC champion and Japan's Keita Nakajima has turned professional this month, and who will become the 2022 champion is looking forward to. Among the 120 contestants from 40 countries were the American junior amateur champion Ding Wenyi of China, and the Thai teenager Ratchanon "TK" Chantananuwat, who is ranked 10th in the amateur world. In April, the 15-year-old Lachagnon won the Asian Mixed Cup of Golf at the Asian Tour Trust, becoming the youngest men's champion of the major major tours of the golf program. Looking forward to this year, these young people will bring a wonderful and classic game!