Aryan finishes top Indian, Australia’s Crowe is AAC champion

From a Correspondent

Chonburi, Thailand: Aryan Roopa Anand rounded off the week with a tied 38^th place in the 13^th Asia Pacific Amateur Championships at the Amata Spring Country Club on Sunday.

Aryan (one-under 71) was the best Indian finisher of the week, as Krishnav Nikhil Chopraa (76) and Shaurya Bhattacharya (75) ended in tied 44^th and 47^th place respectively.

The Bangalore lad, a two-time All-India Amateur winner, totalled one-over 289, Krishnav aggregated five-over 293 and Shaurya had a 294 total.

The other four Indians, who started this week, Milind Soni, Rayhan Thomas, Shat Mishra, and Arjun Gupta missed the 36-hole cut.

At the top, it was a tense one-shot win for event debutant Harrison Crowe of Australia, who admitted it was extremely challenging to come back after a strict lockdown in Australia.

At the death

Crowe virtually snatched away the coveted Asia Pacific Trophy from China’s Bo Jin, who was hoping to emulate his brother Cheng Jin’s win in 2015.

Crowe now gets starts at the 2023 Masters and the 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool. “This is the kind of delay I wanted,” said a delighted Aussie on his plans to defer turning professional.

Bo, who holed out for an eagle from the bunker seemed to have done the job as he was 15-under after previous two finishes of Tied-eighth in 2019 and tied third last year.

He was still one ahead with five holes to go but then double-bogeyed the penultimate hole and fell behind as Crowe picked up a shot, dropped another but parred the last two to win.

Crowe had a stretch with four birdies early on in the back nine and could even afford the luxury of a bogey on 16, as Bo had dropped a shot earlier.

Hopes sunk

The towering Chinese then went into the water on the island green on 17 for a double to finish on 12-under as Crowe rose to 13-under.

Aryan, who is also toying with the idea of turning pro later this year or early next year, said, “It was a great experience.

“I feel I could have done a lot better. I know it is easy to say that, but I did give away a lot of shots with some small mistakes and they cost me a lot.

“Yet, it was a great event, and I am richer for having twice played in them. Hopefully, this will help me as I move on in the game.”

Aryan had five birdies against four bogeys in his 71, while Chopraa had an eventful final round with five birdies, seven bogeys, and a double bogey in his 76.

Shaurya had two birdies against five bogeys in his 75.

Also read: Chopraa still top Indian on tough day as Aussie takes top spot