The 12th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) is set for a thrilling finale on Saturday with World Amateur No.1 Keita Nakajima holding a slender one-shot lead over two-time champion Yuxin Lin at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
Starting round three on Friday in a five-way tie for second behind Bo Jin, Japanese sensation Nakajima carded two birdies on three and four, and picked up further shots on 11, 13 and 16 to bounce back from a bogey on the par-three eighth. And despite finding water with his drive on the 18th, Nakajima showed his class with a fantastic putt to save par. He signed for a four-under round of 67, to rise to 11 under par, to remain one ahead of Yuxin going into the final round.
“I'm happy and feeling good. At the start of the round, I felt a bit nervous, but I birdied No. 3 and 4, and that gave me good momentum. I'm excited and enjoying my golf, so I just hope I can play well and with confidence,” said Nakajima.
Left-hander Yuxin started the day four shots off the lead, in a tie for 15th after a disappointing second round of 71, but the Chinese star got off to a blistering start with birdies on his first three holes. He picked up another four birdies and only dropped one shot in his six-under 65, to pit himself in position on 10 under. Sam Choi and overnight leader Bo Jin are both well poised on nine under.
