Ahmad Skaik Holds Steady in 12th Place After Solid Round at Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
Ahmad Skaik of the UAE maintained his position at six under par after carding a two-under 70 during the third round of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, held at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. This marks Skaik’s third consecutive round of par or better in the prestigious tournament.
Performance Highlights
Skaik began his round with a birdie on the second hole, followed by ten straight pars in the humid desert conditions. He surged into the top seven with back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th holes. However, he lost those gains with consecutive bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes. He quickly rebounded, nearly driving the green at the 17th and converting another birdie opportunity, ultimately finishing the day in 12th place.
Reflecting on his performance, Skaik noted that he had previously struggled in this tournament, having missed cuts in earlier years. He expressed confidence in making the cut this time, stating that his goal was to win but acknowledged that finishing in the top 12 is commendable given the high level of competition. He mentioned playing alongside Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, an Asian Tour winner, who affirmed that Skaik has the potential to turn professional.
Other Competitors
In addition to Skaik, fellow Middle Eastern players also had notable performances. Sam Mullane from the UAE shot a one-under 71, placing him in a tie for 20th, while Rayan Ahmed finished with an even par 72, landing him in a tie for 37th. Lebanon’s Geoffrey Laklak made headlines by firing a two-under par 70, tying for 20th place, a day after becoming the first Lebanese player to make the cut in the tournament’s history.
The event also attracted young talent from the Emirates Golf Federation, who were given a tour of the facilities and had the opportunity to witness the action on the course. The juniors expressed admiration for Skaik, who emphasized the honor of representing the UAE and inspiring the next generation.
Taisei Nagasaki’s Dominance
Sixteen-year-old Taisei Nagasaki opened a five-stroke lead after the third round, marking an impressive debut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. Starting the day one stroke behind a three-way tie for the lead, Nagasaki quickly took charge with birdies on four of his first seven holes. Despite a bogey on the par-4 12th, he added four more birdies to finish with a seven-under 65, bringing his total to 17 under for the Championship, surpassing the previous record of 14 under.
Nagasaki, who recently turned 16, highlighted his strong front nine performance and acknowledged a setback at the 12th hole. He is a student at Tommy Nakajima’s Academy in Japan and has set ambitious goals for himself, including a promise to Nakajima to compete at the Masters together.
Historical Moments
The tournament witnessed a historic moment when Kanichiro Katano of Japan recorded the eighth hole-in-one in Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship history at the par-3 11th hole, which measured 154 yards. This was also Katano’s first hole-in-one.
The champion of this tournament will earn an invitation to the Masters Tournament and an exemption into The Open. Runners-up will receive exemptions into the Open Qualifying Series, and the top three finishers will gain entry into the Amateur Championship.
As reported by golfdigestme.com, the final day of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship promises to be highly competitive, with Nagasaki leading the pack and several challengers, including Japan’s Rintaro Nakano, Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee, and Australian players Billy Dowling and Harry Takis.
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Published on 2025-10-25 11:00:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk