The spark Harry Takis had been searching for came too late as the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship crowned its first Thai winner in a drama-charged finale in Dubai.
Needing to match the seven-shot comeback of fellow Australian Curtis Luck in 2016, Takis (70) and fellow Queenslander Billy Dowling (71) made early inroads.
Paired together in the second-to-last group, the lead had dwindled to five by the time the Aussies reached the fourth tee. Takis made birdie on two and Dowling successfully got up-and-down from short of the green at the par-3 fifth, overnight leader Taisei Nagasaki showing early nerves with a bogey on one.
Those nerves would permeate the Japanese 16-year-old’s round, yet the Aussie charge never got closer than within two strokes of the lead.
With birdies at 10, 11 and 13, Dowling looked the man most likely, trailing by just two with five holes to play.
A birdie after almost driving the green on the par-4 17th kept the flame flickering but a lay-up that bounced once before dropping into the lake fronting the 18th green would ultimately see the 20-year-old finish four strokes from the playoff.
After a blistering tee shot that would rival anything Rory McIlroy has unleashed at the Emirates Golf Club closer, Takis hit a 9-iron from 148 metres to just three feet, making eagle to finish three back.
Despite playing a chip shot from the back of the green that had the Aussies watching on in awe, Nagasaki missed a putt from four feet on the 72nd hole to finish tied with Fifa Laopakdee at 15-under.
Another chapter written. New history made. The 16th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship draws to a close under the Dubai skyline. pic.twitter.com/tKxaeBTq3F
— Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (@AAC_Golf) October 26, 2025
The lowest-ranked player in the field at No.56, Laopakdee almost hit his approach shot into the water at the third playoff hole but hit a superb pitch from the bank to three feet, converting to secure his place at both the 2026 Masters Tournament and 2026 Open Championship.
Playing in his second Asia-Pacific Amateur, Takis was fourth at 12-under par, Dowling a shot further back in a tie for fifth.
“I wish it would’ve come sooner,” Takis said of his eagle on the final hole.
“Felt like I was kind of waiting all day for something like that to happen. To get it up the last is nice but couldn’t really carry that momentum into the rest of the holes because there’s none left.
“I felt like I played really well all week. Obviously it was unfortunate yesterday and I feel like that really hurt my chances, but proud of the way I bounced back today and hung in there when it wasn’t really going my way.
“I think that’s a big part of me learning and getting better as a player is trying to bounce back from those bad breaks.
“It’s all development. I get to play next year again, so we’ll have another chance.”
Dowling cut a dejected figure after his back-nine charge came to an unfortunate end.
“It was into the wind and we had about 175 to the water and we were between 8 and 7-iron,” Dowling said of his lay-up at the last.
“I said to my caddie, ‘I think I’m just going to go 8.’ Play it safe and that way I don’t have to think about it. And I just flushed it.
“It came out like a fire and one bounce, straight in.
“It was a bit disappointing. I would’ve liked to give myself a birdie chance and just finish off the round nicely, but that’s OK. It was still a good tournament.”
Our champion sits down with us after winning the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship 🏆 pic.twitter.com/nzC4cYfH7s
— Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (@AAC_Golf) October 26, 2025
The tournament marked the end of Declan O’Donovan’s amateur career, who signed off with the equal low round of the week, a 7-under 65, to climb 14 places into a tie for 11th.
Fellow New South Welshman, Kayun Mudadana, also produce his best round of the week, a 3-under 69 to finish tied 21st with Jye Halls (72) tied 38th and Chase Oberle (76) tied 59th.
The 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship will be held at Te Arai Links in New Zealand.
Final scores
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