Fifa Confirms Bonallack Trophy Debut

Singapore: Two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) winner Pongsapak ‘Fifa’ Laopakdee will spearhead the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) team at the 2027 Bonallack Trophy.

Fresh from his successful AAC title defence at Te Arai Links in New Zealand a fortnight ago, the 21-year-old Thai has confirmed his participation in the biennial Ryder Cup-style team match play event that pits the Asia-Pacific’s leading male amateurs against their European counterparts.

“We’re thrilled that Fifa will be part of a strong Asia-Pacific All-Star team,” said Rishi Narain, who is bidding to complete an unprecedented hat-trick of victories as non-playing captain and a fourth successive win for the region.

To be played at Buenavista Golf on Tenerife’s north-west coast from January 6-8, this will be the 13th edition of the Bonallack Trophy.

“I’ve heard so much about the Bonallack Trophy and I’m looking forward to being part of the Asia-Pacific team for the first time,” said Arizona State University standout Fifa, who is currently 25th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

Joining Fifa in the Asia-Pacific team will be fellow-Thai Josh Duangmanee.

A fourth-year student at the University of Virginia, Dunagmanee is 49th in the WAGR. He tied for 10th place at Te Arai Links.

In 2025, he earned Honorable Mention All-America honours while this year he finished runner-up for his school in both the Puerto Rico Classic and Southern Highlands Collegiate.

Buenavista Golf, alongside the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, will provide a distinctive setting for the 2027 Bonallack Trophy. Originally planned to be contested in the Middle East, the event will instead return to Spain, which also hosted the most recent European staging of the matches at La Manga Club in 2023.

Located in Buenavista del Norte on Tenerife’s north-west coast, the course was designed by Spanish golf legend Severiano Ballesteros. It sits alongside Hacienda del Conde, a Meliá Collection hotel, between the Atlantic Ocean and the landscapes of the Teno Rural Park.

The 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches to approximately 6,150 metres from the back tees and makes extensive use of its coastal surroundings, with several holes running alongside the ocean and others framed by mountain views and natural terrain.

Played over three days, the Bonallack Trophy feature five foursomes matches in the morning and five fourball matches in the afternoon on each of the opening two days, followed by 12 singles matches on the final day.

A total of 32 points are available, with 16½ required to secure outright victory.

The Bonallack Trophy was first played in 1998 and is named after the late Sir Michael Bonallack, one of the most decorated amateur golfers in the history of the game and a hugely influential figure in golf administration.

Over the years, the match has featured a host of Major champions in the making – Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari for Europe, and Hideki Matsuyama, Cameron Smith and Geoff Ogilvy for Asia-Pacific.