Michigan, United States: Joshua Bai and Nguyen Anh Minh will lead a powerful Asia-Pacific contingent at this week’s 76th US Junior Amateur Championship.
New Zealander Bai and Vietnam’s Anh were members of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s (APGC) triumphant Bonallack Trophy team against the European Golf Association in Spain last year.
This week at Oakland Hills Country Club’s South Course they’re part of a 264-strong field that includes no fewer than 43 representatives from 16 APGC member countries – China (11), Thailand (eight), Chinese Taipei (four), Hong Kong China (three), Australia, Jordan, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam (two each), and one apiece from India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
The strength of the Asia-Pacific challenge is borne out by the fact that, according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), the four top-rated players in the field are all from the region - China’s Chang Xihuan (39th), Thai Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat (57th), Vietnam’s Anh (79th) and China’s Zhou Ziqin (90th).
Although 18-year-old Bai is currently 193rd in the WAGR standings, he’s being touted among the favourites at Oakland Hills after a brilliant run last year when he reached the final only to lose out to American Bryan Kim.
Bai, who also had the distinction of representing the International Team in the 2022 Junior Presidents Cup, will take heart from the triumph of Rianne Malixi of the Philippines in the US Girls’ Junior Championship on Saturday. A year after finishing runner-up, Malixi savoured success – a sequence that Bai will be aiming to emulate.
There are also high hopes for Korean An Seong-hyeon and Thai Ratchanon.
An, who tied 48th on his Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship debut last year at Royal Melbourne, will be attempting to pull off a unique double.
Less than a week ago, the 15-year-old created a slice of history when he triumphed in The R&A Junior Boys' Open at Kilmarnock (Barassie).
Ratchanon, who will attend Stanford University in the fall, has an impressive resume which includes victory in the 2022 Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup when aged 15. He was only the fifth amateur to win on the Asian Tour and the youngest player ever to win a professional Tour event recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Rayan Ahmed will be in the spotlight this week as the first player from the United Arab Emirates to participate in a US Junior Amateur.
Earlier this year, Ahmed won both individual and team gold at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Championship in Qatar, then narrowly missed the cut in the Abu Dhabi Challenge in his European Challenge Tour debut. Ahmed also won the 2024 GCC Youth Games at Abu Dhabi Golf Club by 14 strokes.
