Anh Minh Saddened by AAC Absence
3 min read

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: He may be conspicuous by his absence at this week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), but Nguyen Anh Minh is hopeful of making a return to one of his favourite tournaments in the 2026 edition.

A freshman at Oregon State University, the Vietnamese teenager reluctantly had to pull out from the Emirates Golf Club gathering that tees-off on Thursday due to college commitments.

“I’m very sad that I can’t compete in the AAC this year. I was really looking forward to it. I was really bummed to know that I had to withdraw from it,” said the 18-year-old, currently 44th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

One of the Asia-Pacific’s brightest golfing prospects, Anh Minh participated in the past three AACs, as well as attending three AAC Academies.

On his debut in 2022 he tied for 48th at Thailand’s Amata Spring Country Club and followed that with a joint seventh-place finish at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in 2023, the best performance to date by a Vietnamese player in the championship.

Last year he ended in a share of 19th place at Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba in Japan.

“To play in the AAC is always a privilege. To me, it’s one of the best tournaments in amateur golf. It gives us amateurs the chance to play in some of the biggest Majors in golf. Hopefully in the future I can still play in the AAC,” said Anh Minh, who has emerged as the face of Vietnamese golf after a string of outstanding results around the world.

As well as representing the International Team in last year’s Junior Presidents Cup, Anh Minh was a member of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Bonallack Trophy team in 2023 and this year, playing a key role in the upset triumphs over the European Golf Association in the Ryder Cup-style match play event.

Other notable achievements on his resume include leading his country to its first APGC Men’s Amateur Team Championship title at the 2024 Nomura Cup, claiming team silver and individual bronze medals at the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, finishing runner-up at this year’s US Junior Amateur and competing in both the US Amateur and The Amateur Championship.

He said: “I’m really proud of what I’ve done for my country. To represent your country is always a great feeling. Going out there and wearing that flag on your chest … it’s really nice to have that. I’ve done good things and hopefully I’ll continue to do good things for Vietnam.”

A well-rounded, thoughtful and courteous individual, Anh Minh has taken success in his stride and speaks with clarity about his immediate aspirations.

He said: “The one thing I’m really trying to improve is my distance. When I was playing the US Junior, the US Amateur and the Western, I saw that distance is a major factor in the States because the guys there are all ‘bombers’. Honestly, if you don’t have the distance to play those American courses, it’s a lot harder because with all the long rough and the bunkers and the wind. So, distance for me right now is the main focus.”

Beyond that? “I haven’t thought much about turning pro … but it’s definitely something I want to do in the future. Right now, it’s about trying to develop a better me. That’s why going to college is good for me, because I’ll get to learn more about how to play at the highest level in amateur golf. Just to have a college experience and to learn more and to develop myself as a player and a person – I think that’s more important than me rushing into turning pro,” he said.

*To watch an exclusive three-part APGC interview during which Nguyen Anh Minh discusses his golfing journey, please click the links below:

https://www.apgc.online/videos/nguyen-anh-minh-my-golf-journey-part-1

https://www.apgc.online/multimedia/nguyen-anh-minh-my-golf-journey-part-2

https://www.apgc.online/multimedia/nguyen-anh-minh-my-golf-journey-part-3