AUCKLAND (Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship): Filipino Jaden Dumdumaya stumbled late in the final round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Sunday, costing him a top-10 in his debut appearance.
The 20-year-old University of Southern California standout was cruising at 3-under through 14 holes at Te Arai Links but dropped costly double bogeys at the 15th and 17th holes to sign for a 1-over 72.
His 5-over total was good for a share of 13th position, some 11 shots behind Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand, who became the second player after Hideki Matsuyama of Japan (2010/11) to win back-to-back titles at the Asia-Pacific Amateur.
“A little bit of a disappointing finish, but I learned a lot in the grind I played in this week. It's really tough out there. Still gave it my all to the end. I’m grateful for the experience,” said Dumdumaya.
He lamented mental errors for his lapses coming down the stretch when he had looked poised for a strong finish.
“Definitely, decision-making was a cause of those two holes. On 15, I was in between a driver and 3-wood and decided to hit a driver and didn't put myself in the greatest place. That led me to have to punch out, and then I hit a decent shot on the green and left myself again with another tough putt and three-putted,” he said.
“Then 17, hit a really good shot and rolled into the bunker on the right. I had to keep one of my legs out of the bunker and keep the other one in, and didn't hit a great bunker shot and left it in the bunker, and three-putted the last hole for par.”
With the Asia-Pacific Amateur champion earning starts in the Masters and The Open, Dumdumaya is fired up for another opportunity to represent the Philippines and challenge for the region’s most prestigious amateur Championship.
“A hundred percent. This definitely will not be my last AAC. Looking forward to hopefully coming back next year and playing, really excited and really honoured to be here. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Reigning Philippine Amateur Open champion Shinichi Suzuki shot a closing 76 to finish T53 on 23-over.
Thailand’s Fifa shot a closing 70 for a three-shot win over overnight leader, New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick (75). The 21-year-old Fifa, who won the Championship via a play-off against Taisei Nagasaki in Dubai last year, broke down in tears during the trophy presentation.
“It's been a tough year for me. I didn't play great at all this year, and this is like one of the last events and I wanted to prove to myself that I still got it and I’m still capable to win this event again. To pull it off, it means the whole world to me,” said Fifa. - Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
