Jakarta, Indonesia: Rayhan Latief will not be short on motivation when he tees-off in the 16th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) next month.
Latief, who recently started his freshman year at the University of North Texas, will lead a five-strong Indonesian challenge at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course from October 23-26.
And the 18-year-old two-time member of the International Team at the Junior Presidents Cup is primed to contend for top honours in Dubai.
“I’m excited for this year, especially as we’ll be competing at a special venue in Emirates Golf Club. I’ve walked the golf course previously and it looks challenging. I like the layout a lot and it fits my eye,” said Rayhan, 155th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
He added: “Competing in the Asia-Pacific Amateur is a big motivation and what will drive me the most is the opportunity to show to our Indonesian fans that we can compete well against players from other nations in one of the best golf tournaments in the world.
“That’s my main goal – to try and win the Asia-Pacific Amateur this year. I’m going to be prepared. I know I’m built for this and hopefully I can show that an Indonesian golfer can achieve this goal as no Indonesian player has won the Asia-Pacific Amateur previously.”
Created in 2009, the AAC was established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region. The champion in Dubai will receive an invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament and an exemption into The 154th Open, while the runner(s)-up will receive an exemption into The Open Qualifying Series. The top-three finishers will receive an exemption into The 131st Amateur Championship.
“The Asia-Pacific Amateur is amazing. As a golfer from the region, the APGC, The R&A and the Masters Tournament have given us such a great opportunity. We are treated well during the tournament and we get to compete against the top amateur golfers,” said Latief, who has enjoyed improvements each year in the AAC since missing the half-way cut on his debut in 2022. He finished tied 31st in Australia in 2023 and joint 24th in Japan last year.
Also flying the flag for Indonesia at this year’s AAC will be Asa Najib Bhakti, Amadeus Christian Susanto, Kenneth Sutianto and Randy Bintang, who held the first-round lead in Japan last year before finishing tied 19th.
“It was special to lead after the first round last year and it helped boost my confidence. I’m super excited and I’m looking forward to playing my best this year. I will tell myself to be patient and focused if I can get into that position again,” said 21-year-old Bintang.
While Latief and Bintang will be making their fourth appearances in the AAC, Sutianto has participated on three occasions and Susanto twice. Bhakti will be making his AAC debut.
