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Nazvi Careem

A brilliant birdie on the final hole on Saturday may have earned Jin Cheng his ticket to Augusta after only three rounds, leaving heartbroken Australians Ryan Ruffels and Cameron Davis praying for better weather at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Hong Kong.
Jin’s tap-in on the par-five 18th had the air of a winning stroke with the onset of Typhoon Mujigae threatening to cancel Sunday's final round at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club.
With strong winds battering the course, Jin scored a third-round one-under 69 for a total of 11-under-par 199 and a one-stroke lead.

Ruffels and Davis led Australia’s fightback with three-under-par 67s for a three-round total of 200.
After finishing their rounds, the pair watched as Jin hit an exquisite chip on to the 18th green to within inches of the cup, from where he tapped in. If no play is possible on Sunday, Jin will be declared the winner and will take his place at next year’s US Masters.
Ruffels said it helped to have teammate Davis in the same flight and hoped they would be able to take the fight to a fourth round and keep alive their Masters dreams.
Despite inclement weather being forecasted for Sunday, the competition committee will do everything it can to complete the final round
AAC Organisers
“I had a fair idea going into today that we may not play tomorrow and that I needed to make a little bit of a charge,” said Ruffels, the highest-ranked player in the field at No 8. “It’s the hardest conditions I’ve played in and myself and Cam played as if it was a team event and that helped a lot.
“We were hoping Jin wouldn’t make birdie but he did. It hurts a little in this tournament. Any other event we’d be disappointed but not quite to this extent. We can only hope for some play tomorrow.”
Davis said he was pleased to have conquered the course given the tough wind conditions.

“I’m just hoping we can play tomorrow,” said Davis. “It would be great to have a run at it. I played pretty well in these conditions and am proud of that. With such a big reward in coming first, I knew I had to make a move today.”
Jin, who has led the tournament since his record 62 on Thursday, said he had no idea that his tap-in could be the winning shot.
“I didn’t know that,” he said. “I had heard some rumours but I wasn’t sure. I was lucky [on the 18th] because I had a great lie for my chip shot.

“But I’ve never played in such windy conditions. My cap flew off my head and that has never happened before.”
Organisers said they would do their best to ensure play continues on Sunday.
“Despite inclement weather being forecasted for Sunday, the competition committee will do everything it can to complete the final round,” they said in a statement.
Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung, whose 64 on Friday put him in contention, fell away on Saturday with a seven-over 77 for a three-round total of two-over 212.
I’ve never played in such windy conditions. My cap flew off my head and that has never happened before
Jin Cheng
Playing as true teammates, Ruffels and Davis urged each other on at every tee and it was fitting that they were on level terms at the end of the day.
Davis was first to catch up with Jin before Ruffels joined them. As the Australians finished their round, Jin was making bogey on the 17th to fall back into a three-way tie for the lead at 10 under.
However, the 17-year-old produced the one piece of magic that he needed to keep the lead and what may turn out to be victory.
Tied for fourth on 202 are Taiwan’s Yu Chun-an and South Korean Kim Tae-ho.
Also creeping into contention is Australia's defending champion Antonio Marduca, whose six-under 64 on Saturday left him on seven-under for the tournament, four off the pace.
 


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Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship: golf’s upheaval offers young players new path, but some fear influence of big money

Hong Kong pair Kho and D’Souza battle back to make cut at Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship: China’s Bo Jin leads while Thai teen star Ratchanon settles for ‘disappointing’ 67

2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

China's Jin Cheng praying for rain as he looks set to win ticket to Augusta at Asia-Pacific Amateur

Dense, dark clouds hung over Clearwater Bay on Saturday morning but cleared up later. Photos: AAC

Leading positions after the third round.

Australians Ryan Ruffels (left) and Cameron Davis.

China's Jin Cheng lines up a putt. 

Sport

Golf

Australians Ryan Ruffels and Cameron Davis tied for second one stroke adrift in bid for US Masters place


A brilliant birdie on the final hole on Saturday may have earned Jin Cheng his ticket to Augusta after only three rounds, leaving heartbroken Australians Ryan Ruffels and Cameron Davis praying for better weather at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Hong Kong.


China's Jin Cheng praying for rain as he looks set to win ticket to Augusta at Asia-Pacific Amateur

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Australians Ryan Ruffels and Cameron Davis tied for second one stroke adrift in bid for US Masters place

Australians Ryan Ruffels and Cameron Davis tied for second one stroke adrift in bid for US Masters place