Defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand was back on top Thursday in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, shooting an 8-under 63 in windy conditions to take a three-stroke lead after the first round

TOMARATA, New Zealand -- Defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand was back on top Thursday in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, shooting an 8-under 63 in windy conditions to take a three-stroke lead after the first round.

The tournament winner will receive spots in the Masters and British Open. Last year in Dubai, Laopakdee outlasted Taisei Nagasaki of Japan on the third hole of a playoff to become the first Thai winner in event history.

“I knew it was going to be windy out there and it was going to be tough,” said the 21-year-old Laopakdee, a senior at Arizona State. “Eight under wasn’t on my bingo card today, but I was able to pull it off and it feels amazing.”

Laopakdee holed an 83-yard shot for eagle on the par-4 ninth in his afternoon round on Te Arai Links’ South Course, the scenic layout that features ocean views on all but two holes.

“Just tried to land like pin‑high,” Laopakdee said. “Don’t want to be short. Just have a good chance of making birdie, and I hit a pretty good shot and somehow made it. I don’t know what to say, amazing.”

New Zealand players held the next three spots, with Florida junior Joshua Bai shooting 66 and Ryan Xie and Cooper Moore 67. The trio played in the morning wave.

Kaito Sato of Japan opened with a 68.