Jasper Stubbs has won the Asia Pacific Amateur at Royal Melbourne, punching his ticket to next year’s 2024 Masters and Open Championship.
Stubbs, 21, who lives 2km from Royal Melbourne, was five-over for the tournament after six holes of the final round but rattled off four birdies in his last 12 holes to shoot 69. At one over, he was tied with Chinese duo Wenyi Ding (70) and Sampson Zheng (75). “I made sure I believed that I could win as there’s always a chance around this golf course,” Stubbs said.
Ding and Stubbs birdied the 18th of the Composite course on the first extra hole, eliminating Zheng, who had missed the green. On the second trip down 18, Ding failed to get up and down from a horrible lie in the greenside bunker – his par putt cruelly lipped out – while Stubbs two-putted for par from long range to win. His tap in was several inches.
The Asia Pacific Amateur is run jointly by the R&A and Augusta National, and Stubbs will tee up at the 2024 Masters and 152nd Open at Royal Troon. “I’m a bit lost for words. It’s life changing to play in The Masters and The Open. It was amazing to tap in for the win and make that a reality.”
Zheng, a college golfer at the University of California, Berkeley, took a four-shot lead into the final day but carded a four-over-par round of 75. He saved par from a greenside bunker on the last to make the playoff.
“Today was a tough round – I made a few bad decisions,” Zheng said. “I got myself into the playoff and gave myself a look. No regrets.”
CT Lin of Taiwan shot 69 to finish at two over sharing fourth alongside Australia’s Max Charles. Day one leader, New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori, eagled the 71st hole and finished solo sixth.
The AAC was founded in 2009, a joint venture between The R&A, The Masters Tournament and the Asia Pacific Golf Federation to grow golf in the region. 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama was a two-time champion and 2022 Open champion Cam Smith is an alumni of the event.
It was announced on Thursday morning in Melbourne that the 15th AAC will take place at Taiheiyo Club’s Gotemba Course in Japan in 2024.
AUSSIE SCORES ASIA PACIFIC AMATEUR
Win: Jasper Stubbs 1st 68-74-74-69 – 285
+2 Max Charles T4
+ 7 Jeff Guan 9th
+ 8 Billy Dowling 10th
+10 Connor McDade T12
+11 Quinnton Croker T19
+14 Lucas Michel T28
+ 17 Jye Pickin T39
+18 Harry Takis T41
+19 Jack Buchanan T45
+20 Jake Riley, Connor Fewkes T48
