Vietnam celebrates as Nguyen Tuan Anh and Ho Anh Huy make the halfway cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

Tuan Anh Nguyen of Vietnam plays his stroke from the No. 14 tee during the second round of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, being played at the Te Arai Links, South Course in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday 30 October 2026. -- Photo: AAC.

AUCKLAND (Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship): Nguyen Tuan Anh fought to a three-over 74 in blustery conditions for tied 14th position as he and fellow debutant, Ho Anh Huy, safely made the halfway cut at the 17th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Friday.

With Te Arai Links showing its teeth with wind gusts of up to 58kph for a second straight day, Tuan Anh displayed all his composure with a card that included three birdies against six bogeys for a two-day total of 3-over 145.

Anh Huy added a 77 to his opening 78 for tied 53rd position while Nguyen Van Hoa missed the halfway cut which was set at 13-over after shooting an 83 for a 22-over total.

The 17-year-old Tuan Anh, who has committed to join University of Southern California, trails second round leader and defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand who leads by two shots on 7-under following a 72. Fifa is attempting to become only the second player after Hideki Matsuyama to successfully defend his Asia-Pacific Amateur title where the winner earns coveted spots in the Masters and The Open.

“This is the first time in my life to play with this wind, with these firm greens. 3‑over today, I would say not a good score but for these conditions I would take that,” said Tuan Anh.

“I started bad. I bogeyed the first two hole but came back with back‑to‑back birdies and then got into some trouble on Hole 8 and 9, made bogeys there. I felt like I cannot putt on these greens, but hopefully I can figure it out tomorrow. The winds got up really strong on the back nine. It was tough. Luckily I made birdie on Hole 14.”

Anh Huy Ho of Vietnam plays his stroke from the No. 5 tee during the first round of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, being played at the Te Arai Links, South Course in Auckland, New Zealand, on Thursday 29 October 2026. -- Photo: AAC.

With better weather forecast ahead of the weekend, Tuan Anh hopes to make a move up the leaderboard to challenge for the country’s best finish in the history of the Championship. Last year, Le Khanh Hung finished tied fifth in Dubai.

“I'll try to play my best, shot by shot, stay patient  My first time playing the AAC, make the cut, top‑20 now, I’m happy.  I felt like I did well the first two days.  Hopefully I can keep it up for the last two days,” he said. -- Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship