Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho runner-up to Keita Nakajima at Asia-Pacific Amateur Championshi after play-off

Taichi Kho went all the way to a second play-off hole at the 2021 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai on Saturday with his runner-up finish the best by a Hong Kong golfer at the prestigious tournament.

Kho was edged by Japan’s world No 1 amateur Keita Nakajima in that play-off after the pair could not be separated over four rounds and a first play-off hole at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

The pair had both parred the first play-off hole on the 18th before Kho hit the water with his drive as they played it again.

Nakajima birdied out to lift the title and become the first reigning world No 1 amateur to do so. The win gained him invites to next year’s Masters and British Open, while he also has an invitation to the US Open after winning the Mark H McCormack medal as the men’s top amateur.

The 2018 Asian Games gold medallist Nakajima finished joint second at the 2018 edition, which was won by his countryman Takumi Kanaya.

Nakajima is Japan’s third winner of the prestigious tournament after Kanaya and Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion.

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“I am very proud of what I have achieved. To follow in the footsteps of Hideki-san and Takumi feels great,” Nakajima said after his win.

Kho’s achievement was the best finish by a Hong Kong golfer in the 12 years since the tournament began in 2009 and the University of Notre Dame athlete was all smiles as he posed for a selfie with Nakajima and the trophy.

“Congratulations to Taichi, who hails from Discovery Bay Golf Club, and his parents Victor and Yoko, for a superlative performance over the past four days,” said Hong Kong Golf Association President Paul Tse.

“Not only is he doing Hong Kong and himself proud, he has shown all of Hong Kong and the world of sports what a combination of hard work and perseverance can do to elevate performance to another level.

“We are absolutely confident that we will be seeing more of Taichi in the times ahead. Onwards and upwards!”

Kho and Nakajima both carded a 14-under 270 over their four rounds with Kho powering into contention with a last round of 65.

That came on the back of a 64 in his third round, with both of those final two rounds helping undo a 73 in his second round. In contrast, Nakajima was the model of consistency as he carded two rounds of 67 and two of 68.

China’s Lin Yuxin won the last edition of the tournament in 2019, becoming the second two-time champion. He finished tied for seventh this year after dropping from second on the leader board before the final round. There was no tournament last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Alexander Yang finished 13th while Alex Zhou Tianwei and Yue Yin-ho missed the cut.