AUCKLAND (Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship): Jaden Dumdumaya of the Philippines is refusing to throw in the towel after a second straight 2-over 73 left him 11 shots back of defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Friday.
With Te Arai Links baring its teeth once again with wind gusts of up to 58kph, Dumdumaya put up a brave front after navigating his second round with three birdies against as many bogeys, and one double bogey for a 4-over 146 total.
He will enter the weekend in tied 18th position, and with calmer conditions forecasted for the weekend, the University of Southern California standout hopes to make up ground on the 36-hole leader.
“I did a pretty good job until the last hole, kind of compounded mistakes out there. So I wasn't able to end it on a good note. I'm still pretty proud of my play,” said Dumdumaya, who is making his Championship debut.
“I had the same mindset as yesterday. Keep it in play. Hitting it on the right parts of the greens and try to make putts out there.”
The 20-year-old Filipino had to back off from some putts as buffeting winds sent scores soaring in the 17thedition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, where the champion will receive coveted spots into the Masters and The Open next year.
On the 15th hole, he missed what looked like a routine three-footer for par when winds disrupted his concentration. “It was pretty flat but right‑to‑left, and the wind was blowing in my back. I was about to hit it, and the ball was shaking and it actually moved a little bit. So I had to back off a couple times,” he said.
“It's hard to concentrate and commit to hitting a decent golf putt. I ended up missing it. It's things like that make it demoralising out there knowing that you can't really do much, you just have to hit it and hope and pray it goes in.”
Dumdumaya has already experienced the magic of Augusta National, having won the Boys’ 14-15 Division in the 2022 Drive, Chip and Putt Finals, which is held the weekend prior to the Masters.
Althought he’s well off the pace, he is not giving up hope just yet.
“My mindset is there's a lot of golf left. Still have half a tournament left to play,” he said. “Just play my best out and try to finish the week strong, whether that's top five or top 10 or even a win, just try and enjoy it out there.
“I feel like my game is in a good spot. I just didn't get good breaks out there. I’m going to focus on things that I can control but if I keep on doing what I'm doing, sometimes it will work out the way I want it to.”
Reigning Philippine Amateur Open champion Shinichi Suzuki made it through to the weekend following a second round 77 for a 13-over total, which was right on the halfway cut line.
Rolande Bregente (81-77) and Chris Remata (84-81) missed the cut. - Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
