TOMARATA, New Zealand – A year after a historic breakthrough at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, defending champion Fifa Laopakdee picked up where he left off with an eight-under 63 to take a three-stroke lead over New Zealand’s Joshua Bai after the first round at Te Arai Links’ South Course.

Laopakdee, now a senior at Arizona State University, became the first player from Thailand to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur last fall with a victory on the third playoff hole in Dubai. He went on to compete in the Masters and The Open earlier this year before returning to defend his title at the 17th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur this week.

“Couldn’t ask for a better way to start the round,” said Laopakdee. “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.”

After a strong start of two under through eight holes, Laopakdee enjoyed fireworks at the par-4 ninth. The 21-year-old holed out from 83 yards for an eagle-2, the only eagle at the ninth on Thursday. The shot capped an opening nine of 31 and vaulted him into contention.

“Yeah, so I had 83 yards into the wind off the left, and talking to my caddie, just tried to land like pin‑high,” said Laopakdee of his finish to the front nine. “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.”

The Thai star continued his success after the turn, tallying birdies at Nos. 10, 13, 15 and 16 to reach the par-5 18th one birdie shy of the 18-hole Championship record of 62. After encountering trouble on his approach, he got up and down from 132 yards for a closing par and eight-under 63 total.  

Bai, a 20-year-old from nearby Auckland, New Zealand, posted an early five-under 66 to lead a strong contingent of New Zealanders on the leaderboard. The 2026 North & South Amateur champion and University of Florida junior countered three birdies with a lone bogey on his first nine and tallied three additional birdies coming in to reach five under.

Fellow Kiwis Ryan Xie and Cooper Moore finished at four-under 67, while Yuki Miya, who hit the opening tee shot on Thursday morning, carded a two-under 69. Japan’s Kaito Sato is in solo-fifth after a three-under 68, while Hong Kong, China’s Joseph Cao, the youngest player in the field at 14 years old, sits T-6 at two under alongside Miya, Australia’s Kayun Mudadana, Malaysia’s Nateesh Ganesh and China’s Qiyou Wu. A 36-hole cut will be made to the top 60 and ties after Friday’s second round.

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