Dubai, Oct 26 (NationPress) Demonstrating remarkable composure at just 17 years old, Anshul Mishra, the current All India amateur champion, has etched his name in history as only the third Indian to secure a spot in the Top-10 of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship.

Competing in the Asia Pacific for the very first time, Mishra, who celebrated his 17th birthday just three days prior to teeing off this week, recorded a score of 2-under 70 for a total of 9-under 279, finishing Tied-seventh at the prestigious Emirates Golf Club.

Reflecting on his experience, Mishra expressed, “I learned a great deal from the professionals I observed at the DP World India Championship. I managed the course effectively, and it was influenced by watching players like Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood at the DGC last week, where I have played numerous times.”

The champion of the event, Pongsapak Laopakdee, nicknamed Fifa, staged an impressive comeback to claim the title, which qualifies him for the 2026 Masters and The Open. Starting the day six strokes behind, he forced a playoff with a 67 and then birdied three times to outlast the 16-year-old leader, Taisei Nagasaki, on the third playoff hole.

Fifa humorously shared the origin of his nickname, stating, “My father is a huge football fan – he loves the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Cup. Thankfully, he chose FIFA.”

He acknowledged the influence of Thai golf legends Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, saying, “Kiradech has been phenomenal. His advice to me was to keep practicing, no matter the circumstances. Thongchai’s accomplishments have also greatly inspired me.”

Before Mishra, only two Indians had landed in the Top-10 of the AAC, which was inaugurated in 2009, a year after Mishra was born. They are Khalin Joshi (T-9 in 2010) and Rayhan Thomas (T-2 in 2018).

Despite having a WAGR ranking of 437, which was better than only one other player in the Top-10 this week, Mishra maintained par or better on each of the four days at the Majilis course. He delivered an exhilarating 70 that featured eight birdies, six bogeys, and only four pars, following scores of 72-69-68 for a total of 9-under 279.

When asked what he could improve, Mishra chuckled, saying, “Eliminating all the bogeys would have likely propelled me into the playoffs.”

He added, “It was just one of those days; I was playing the same golf, focusing on hitting fairways and greens, and trying to sink putts or move on with pars. I dropped many shots but also gained a lot.”

Mishra expressed delight at having made eight birdies on the challenging Majilis Course, which also hosts the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and has seen Rory McIlroy triumph multiple times.

Accompanied by his father Amit, Mishra also extended gratitude to his coach, Jesse Grewal.

Champion Fifa started the day six strokes behind the overnight leader, 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki from Japan, but caught up with him by finishing with two birdies to force a playoff.

Nagasaki had a chance to win in regulation play but missed a birdie putt, leading to a playoff that extended across three extra holes – 18th, 17th, and back to 18th again. Both Fifa and Nagasaki birdied the first two holes of the playoff, but Fifa’s third birdie secured him the title, making him the first Thai winner of the AAC.

As Fifa celebrated with friends and teammates on the 18th green, Nagasaki was left in tears.

The 20-year-old Arizona University golfer, who shot 5-under 67 in the final round, shared, “I’ve been laughing and singing songs while playing for as long as I can remember.”

Regarding his upcoming Masters participation, he remarked, “It was the first event I ever watched on TV as a child. I have been a fan for as long as I can remember.”

With four out of five Indians making the cut this week, the next best after Mishra was Raghav Gulati from Dubai (73-70-71-75) in Tied-27th place at 1-over. Rakshit Dahiya, the highest-ranked Indian in the field at 342, finished with 72-72-74-77 for a 7-over 295, placing him T-42nd.

Ranveer Mitroo (74-71-77-76) ended at 10-over in T-48th, while Harman Sachdeva missed the cut.

Japan’s Rintaro Nakano, who faced three bogeys between the fifth and ninth holes, shot 71 and secured third place. He previously finished third last year and T-28th in 2023.

Aussie Harry Takis, who had a quadruple eight on the Par-4 fifth a day earlier, concluded the week with an eagle for a 70 on the final day, placing fourth.

Australian Billy Dowling (71) wrapped up the week with a bogey on the Par-5 18th, finishing tied for fifth with Vietnam’s Khanh Hung Le (71), who began the day with a double bogey and concluded it with a birdie.

Mishra finished in a four-way tie for seventh alongside Korean players Minsu Kim (68) and Seonghyeon An (72), as well as China’s Xihuan Chang (71), all at 9-under.

The 2026 AAC is set to take place at the Te Arai Links in New Zealand.