Lin Hot on the Heels of Pace-Setting Nakajima

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Japan’s Keita Nakajima made a critical par save after taking a penalty drop on the closing hole to take a one-stroke lead after the third round of the 12th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

The number one player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) shot a four-under-par 67 to finish at 11-under, one ahead of fast-charging defending champion Lin Yuxin.

The Chinese star, who finished the second round tied for 15th and four strokes off the lead, roared back in contention with a stunning six-under-par 65 that included seven birdies and a solitary bogey.

Overnight leader Bo Jin (70) of China, brother of 2015 AAC champion Cheng Jin, seemed to be cruising towards another bogey-free round after 16 holes. He was at 11-under overall after three birdies and tied for the lead with Nakajima but bogeyed 17 and 18 to drop to nine-under and tied for third place with Korean Sam Choi (69).

Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho shot the best round of the day – a seven-under-par 64 – and his reward was a significant jump up the leaderboard to solo fifth place at eight-under. A group of seven players finished in tied sixth at seven-under, four behind the leader.

The only mistake Nakajima made all day before his pulling his tee shot into the penalty area on the 18th was a three-putt bogey on the eighth hole.

“I am really proud of the par save on the 18th and a big birdie on the 16th [he made a 15-foot putt]. The last three holes are very challenging on this course, so to finish them in one-under was good,” said 21-year-old Nakajima, who is hoping to become the third Japanese winner of the AAC after 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (2010, 2011) and his good friend Takumi Kanaya (2018).

“I was a bit nervous at the start, but made birdies on the third and fourth holes, and that gave me nice momentum. I did miss a couple of short putts, but then I also made the big putts on the 16th and 18th.

“One shot ahead, I am really excited to be in the position I am in. I just want to have a good preparation tomorrow morning. Because of the way I finished, I am feeling very confident.”

Frustrated after finishing with a double-bogey on the final hole in Thursday’s second round, Lin was off to a brilliant start as he opened with three birdies in the first three holes. A second bogey in two days on the par-four seventh could have stalled his momentum, but he added another four birdies to secure his lowest round this week.

“My ball-striking was just a little off yesterday, so I worked extra after the round, and it paid off. I felt like I stroked it better today and the putter was all right. It was a good score,” said the 2017 and 2019 AAC champion.

“I’m really glad I have this opportunity to be in contention again. It would be nice to achieve the three-peat. I’ve got myself in this position and I’m going to enjoy tomorrow and see what happens.”

Though he finished two behind Nakajima after back-to-back bogeys, Jin, the 19-year-old from Beijing, didn’t seem discouraged.

“Definitely not the finish I wanted for the last two holes. Overall, it was still a solid round, and I am excited for tomorrow. In fact, if you ask me, I prefer to come from behind rather than lead, so this is fine,” said Jin.

“The bogeys on the last two holes were not that bad, either. The 18th is a tough hole, and on 17 I left myself in a tough spot on the right of the green.”