The 2026 Asia‑Pacific Amateur Championship began under gusty conditions at Te Arai Links’ South Course in Auckland, where defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand posted a blistering eight‑under 63 to seize an early lead. New Zealand’s Joshua Bai responded with a five‑under 66, briefly topping the board, while teammates Ryan Xie and Cooper Moore each carded 67, sitting just one stroke behind Bai and three behind Laopakdee.
After a wind‑laden second round, Laopakdee maintained his advantage, holding a two‑stroke lead over Cooper Moore. Ryan Xie remained in third place, and fellow Kiwi Zack Swanwick moved into fourth after delivering the day’s lowest round. The tournament also featured a highlight from Japan’s Taishi Moto, who recorded a hole‑in‑one, and only seven players were under par at the halfway point, underscoring the challenging conditions. The strong showing by multiple New Zealand golfers reflects the depth of the nation’s amateur program and sets up an intriguing battle for the title in the final rounds.
