Defending champ Laopakdee salvages 72 for 2-shot lead in windy Asia-Pacific Amateur

TOMARATA, New Zealand (AP) — Defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand salvaged a 1-over 72 in strong wind Friday in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship to take a two-stroke lead into the weekend at Te Arai Links.

A day after opening with an 8-under 63, Laopakdee began his morning round on the seaside layout bogey-bogey-birdie-bogey-bogey in 35 mph wind. The Arizona State senior also bogeyed the 10th, then birdied Nos. 12, 13 and 17.

“I had a 5‑footer two holes in a row and the ball just snapped 90 degrees,” Laopakdee said. “I aimed a foot left from 5 feet and it went like 3 feet right. It’s pretty tricky. Overall, it was a grind out there and I would take 7 under for the first two rounds.”

The winner will receive spots in the Masters and British Open. Last year in Dubai, Laopakdee won the third hole of a playoff to become the first Thai champion in event history.

Three players from New Zealand followed on the leaderboard. Cooper Moore (70) was second at 5 under, Ryan Xie (71) was 4 under, and Zack Swanwic (67) 3 under. Kaito Sato of Japan was 2 under after a 72.

Seven players were under par after two days, with Japan’s Taishi Moto (71) and China’s Qiyou Wu (72) at 1 under. Moto had a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth.

“I couldn’t make any putts because it was super windy out there so the hole-in-one definitely helped a lot,” Moto said. “It was super difficult on the greens. Like ridiculous. My ball was moving. My body was moving.”

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