Exciting Final-Day Shootout in Store at Gunung Geulis

Bogor, West Java, Indonesia: Yutaka Toyoshima is facing a triple final-day threat to his domination of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Mid-Amateur Championship title.

Winner of the inaugural championship last year, the 49-year-old Japanese appeared set fair to retain his crown after building a four-stroke lead following an imperious opening-day 66 around the East Course at Gunung Geulis Country Club on Tuesday.

However, an uncharacteristically shaky second-round 74 from Toyoshima has given hope to a trio of pursuers that he can be overhauled in tomorrow’s final round in the 54-hole stroke play event.

With a 36-hole total of two-under 140, Toyoshima is just two shots clear of compatriot Hiroki Chino and Indonesians Zachary Kristian and Alit Jiwandana.

“A two-shot lead is not significant on this course,” said the five-time Japan Mid-Amateur champion, who paid the price for being out of position with a handful of drives and approach shots which led to six bogeys, three of which came on short holes.

“I made it difficult and had several three-putts,” said Toyoshima, who knows improvement is needed if he’s to hold onto the trophy he lifted at Gading Raya Golf Club in Jakarta last year.

“It’s very close at the top of the leaderboard. I’ll be aiming to shoot in the 60s in the final round, but being under par is the minimum requirement,” he said.

By his own admission, 57-year-old Chino is surprised to find himself in contention and in with a chance of bettering a rival to whom he has played second fiddle on many occasions over the years.

“It’s the first time for me at the APGC Mid-Amateur Championships and to be in this position is a little overwhelming. Yutaka is a tough opponent and I expect him to run away with it in the final round,” said Chino who often visits Jakarta on business but is playing golf here for the first time.

For 36-year-old Alit there my well be a feeling of déjà vu. He played alongside Toyoshima in the first round here and last year when he finished as the leading Indonesian in fourth place.

“He’s a fantastic player. I’ll just try my best,” said Alit who had two birdies and two bogeys in an even-par 71 today, the joint best round of the day, matched only by Indian Raj Randhawa.

At the age of 27, Kristian is one of the youngest players in the field this week. A strong finish to round two which saw him roll home a short birdie putt at the par-three 16th and save par with a long putt at 18 after finding trouble off the tee indicate that his challenge will not fade away.

Another young Indonesian who has not given up hope of victory is reigning Gunung Geulis club champion Luke Moore. For the second day running, Moore, who became eligible to compete here after turning 25 last month, was left to rue missed opportunities.

“I had a couple of good eagle chances on the par-fives but didn’t take them,” said Moore, whose prospects were not helped by two double-bogeys in a round of 73 that leaves him seven shots off the pace in a share of fifth place.

“I had 19 putts on the back nine and will need to improve on that if I’m to have any chance of winning,” he said.

Shot of the day came from Indian Vignesh Ranga Rao whose uphill wedge approach to the dog-leg left 14th pitched short of the flag and rolled gently into the cup for an eagle-two that helped him to a second successive 74 and a share of eighth place overall.

Hosted by the Indonesia Golf Association, the APGC Mid-Amateur Championships are open to amateur golfers who had reached their 25th birthday as of June 25, 2026, and whose WHS handicap index at the time of entry did not exceed 8.0.

The Mid-Amateur Championship has attracted entries from nine countries or territories and is being staged in four age divisions: Group A (ages 25 to 29); Group B (ages 30 to 37), Group C (ages 38 to 46) and Group D (aged 47 and above). Divisional leaders after round two are Kristian, Jiwandana, Randhawa and Toyoshima.

An extra edge will be added to the leading flight tomorrow with all four players contending in the team event in which the best two daily scores in each team of three are counted.

Kristian and Jiwandana are part of the Indonesia 1 team which is leading the way on 284. That’s three in front of Toyoshima’s Japan 1 team while Chino is a member of the Japan 2 team that is currently third on 291.

The champions will receive the Yapto Suryosoemarno Cup, donated by Yapto S. Soerjosoemarno, Chairman of the Indonesia Golf Association.

The APGC Mid-Amateur Championships are supported by SanQua, Hongsam Ball, Restoran Sederhana Masakan Padang and You.C1000 Isotonic Drink.

Leading Second-Round Scores

140 – Yutaka Toyoshima (Japan) 66-74
142 – Alit Jiwandana (Indonesia) 71-71; Zachary Kristian (Indonesia) 70-72; Hiroki Chino (Japan) 70-72
147 – Raj Randhawa (India) 76-71; Kyaw Ko Ko Chit (Myanmar) 74-73; Luke Moore (Indonesia) 74-73
148 – Koichi Mizukami (Japan) 75-73; Shigeta Hattory (Japan) 75-73; Vignesh Ranga Rao (India) 74-74; Bryan Chiew (Brunei) 72-76

Group A
(aged 25 to 29) 

142 – Zachary Kristian (Indonesia) 70-72
147 – Luke Moore (Indonesia) 74-73
149 – Kabuto Chigita (Japan) 76-73

Group B
(aged 30 to 37) 

142 – Alit Jiwandana (Indonesia) 71-71
147 – Kyaw Ko Ko Chit (Myanmar) 74-73
148 – Koichi Mizukami (Japan) 75-73; Shigeta Hattory (Japan) 75-73; Bryan Chiew (Brunei) 72-76

Group C
(aged 38 to 46) 

147 – Raj Randhawa (India) 76-71
148 – Vignesh Ranga Rao (India) 74-74
150 – Angki Trijaka (Indonesia) 78-72; Sendy Susanto (Indonesia) 72-78

Group D
(aged 47 and above) 

140 – Yutaka Toyoshima (Japan) 66-74
142 – Hiroki Chino (Japan) 70-72
151 – Suharsono (Indonesia) 78-73; Syren Johnstone (Hong Kong) 77-74; Hery Budinoto (Indonesia) 73-78

Team Tournament
(Best two scores count) 

284 – Indonesia 1 141-143 (Zachary Kristian 70-72, Alit Jiwandana 71-71, Andy Sjaichudin 79-75)
287 – Japan 1 141-146 (Yutaka Toyoshima 66-74, Koichi Mizukami 75-73, Shigeta Hattory 75-73)
291 – Japan 2 146-145 (Hiroki Chino 70-72, Kabuto Chigita 76-73, Dan Maeda 82-77)