Overnight leader Harrison Crowe rallied to win the back nine and edge China’s Bo Jin by just one shot, winning the 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Chonburi (Thailand), on Saturday. Crowe will be invited to The 2023 Masters at Royal Liverpool and the 151st Open.
It means so much. Crowe stated that while I played some really good golf in the beginning of the season, it was not my best play during the year. Crowe also said that he didn’t play any good golf when he traveled abroad. Crowe said, “I came here this week with something important to prove and I’m really proud of the way that I handled myself on the course and off.”
Crowe, No. Jin was three shots ahead of Crowe when he turned at 3-over par. However, he made four birdies within a span of five holes that began at No. 11, and a clutch up-and-down for par from the 18th helped him shoot even-par 72. He then held on for victory by one shot with a Toal of 13-under 265 for 72 holes.
Crowe, 21, who turned 21 in October 2015, said that “I certainly had the need to dig deep.” “At the turn I told my dad and his friend that I needed just one to go in and one to drop and then I supported myself to keep going. “I had not had a birdie all afternoon, but the one on 11th gave me my momentum.”
Ryuta Suzu (73) from Japan and Jeff Guan (69), of Crowe, tied for third at nine under par.
Jin (71) was two shots behind Crowe, but he made his move by putting in a tap-in approach for birdie on the first hole. Crowe fell to an opening bogey.
Jin appeared to be in a good position after a par-4 12th-hole eagle, but Crowe made a great save and made a birdie. When he scored his fourth birdie on the par-5 15, he tied the game. Crowe missed the green on the 16th and bogeyed the hole, but he would still have a share of the lead.
The 17th hole, an island green par-3, would be crucial in the outcome. Jin’s tee shot at the 129-yard hole was short and he suffered a double-bogey five. Crowe held a one-shot advantage going into 18. However, his approach to the home hole was not straight and he had to save par.
“I thought it was going in the water.” Crowe stated that he pulled the item but flushed it. Crowe said, “I was hoping it caught a little bit of green.”
Crowe is the third Australian player to win AAC Trophy. He will be able to defend his title next year when the championship returns at Royal Melbourne.
Jin wanted to add an AAC trophy to the family cabinet to go with the one he won in 2015 by his brother Cheng.
Although this is not the place I wanted to be, I’m proud of how I played the week. Crowe’s back nine play is unrivalled, and you can’t take that away,” Jin said. Jin qualified for the British Open final qualifying. “I have another year at the college. If they invite me back, then I will definitely be coming to Melbourne next season and trying this again. I hope to finish in the top one.
The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was established in 2009 by the Masters Tournament, The R&A, and the APGC. This championship aims to promote amateur golf throughout the region. Each year, the field includes the top male amateurs from the Asia-Pacific region who are affiliated with the 42 Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation organizations.
