Defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand stormed to a three-shot lead with a stunning eight-under 63 on the opening day of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Te Arai Links' South Course in Tomarata, New Zealand on Thursday, 29 October 2026, while the Indian contingent — Ribhav Verma, Anshul Mishra, and Arkesh Bhatia — endured a difficult start in testing wind conditions. All three Indians will need a significant turnaround in Friday's second round to survive the halfway cut.

Laopakdee's Masterclass in the Wind

Laopakdee, the 21-year-old Arizona State University senior who made history last year as the first Thai golfer to win the championship, demonstrated he had carried full confidence from his breakthrough triumph in Dubai. Despite the strong winds that tormented much of the field, he turned in 31 after starting steadily at two-under through eight holes, before a pivotal moment at the ninth hole where he holed out from 83 yards for an eagle on the par-four.

He kept the pressure on the back nine, collecting birdies at the 10th, 13th, 15th and 16th holes. He arrived at the par-five 18th needing a birdie to equal the championship's 18-hole record of 62, but after finding trouble with his approach, he steadied to make par and post an exceptional 63. 'Couldn't ask for a better way to start the round,' Laopakdee said. 'Before it started, I knew it was going to be windy out there, and it was going to be tough. Eight under wasn't on my bingo card today, but I was able to pull it off, and it feels amazing,' he added.

Earlier this year, Laopakdee also played in the Masters and The Open, and he returned to New Zealand evidently motivated to become the first back-to-back champion in the tournament's recent history.

Leaderboard After Round One

New Zealand's Joshua Bai, a 20-year-old from Auckland and a junior at the University of Florida, sits three shots behind Laopakdee after carding a five-under 66. The 2026 North and South Amateur champion combined six birdies with a bogey in a composed round. The home contingent also made a strong start, with Ryan Xie and Cooper Moore signing for four-under 67s. Japan's Kaito Sato sits at three-under 68, while Yuki Miya, Australia's Kayun Mudadana, Malaysia's Nateesh Ganesh, China's Qiyou Wu, and Hong Kong, China's 14-year-old Joseph Cao are among those at two-under.

Indians Face Uphill Climb Before the Cut

For the Indian trio, the opening round painted a stark picture. Ribhav Verma carded a 79, Anshul Mishra returned an 82, and Arkesh Bhatia had the most difficult day, signing for an 85. The demanding layout of Te Arai Links, amplified by persistent strong winds, made club selection and shot execution punishing throughout the day.

The championship's format sees the top 60 players and ties advance after 36 holes, meaning all three Indians face a substantial scoring deficit heading into Friday. Verma, Mishra, and Bhatia will need to negotiate the South Course with far greater precision, manage the conditions more effectively, and avoid the costly mistakes that proved expensive on day one.

What the Indians Must Do on Friday

The task is formidable but not impossible. The strong winds that battered the field on Thursday can shift, and Te Arai's layout rewards disciplined, patient golf. For the Indians, the priority will be converting birdie opportunities while keeping bogeys and worse off the card. A round in the mid-to-low 70s may not be sufficient — only a significant sub-par effort is realistically likely to keep their championship ambitions alive beyond the halfway stage. All eyes will be on whether they can find a different gear when the second round gets underway.