SHIZUOKA, Japan (AP) — Wenyi Ding capped off a marathon Sunday with a 3-under 67 that carried the 19-year-old from China to a one-shot victory in the Asia-Pacific Amateur and earned him an invitation to the Masters and the British Open next year.
The majors might have to wait. Golf Digest reported that Ding plans to take up European tour membership through the new “Global Amateur Pathway.” The Masters and British Open typically require players to remain an amateur to use such exemptions.
Ding, the freshman of the year at Arizona State last season, had to play 14 holes to complete a 67 that left him tied for the 54-hole lead with Ziqin Zhou of China. He pulled ahead in the final round when Zhou made bogey on the second hole and Ding birdied the third, and there was plenty of drama at the end.
Zhou, an 18-year-old who plays for the California Golden Bears, birdied the 18th for a 68 to tie for the lead. Ding regained the lead with his final birdie at the 17th, a 239-yard par 3, where he hit his tee shot to 6 feet.
On the par-5 closing hole at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba, Ding found a bunker off the tee, laid up and hit his third to the back of the green. He ran his putt about 4 feet by the hole and made the par putt for the win.
Ding, a former U.S. Junior Amateur champion and at No. 5 the highest-ranked amateur in the field, finished at 12-under 268 and atoned for a playoff loss in the Asia-Pacific Amateur last year at Royal Melbourne.
“It feels really good,” Ding said. “Last year I lost in the playoff and just felt I couldn’t play any better. And this year I got the trophy. It’s amazing.”
He becomes the fifth player from China to win in the 15 years of the Asia-Pacific Amateur.
Ding chose not to return to Arizona State for his sophomore year because the Global Amateur Pathway is for the leading player from the top 20 in the world amateur ranking who is not competing in college.
Ding told Golf Digest that the decision is hard, but it’s more than likely he will take a European tour card and could turn pro as early as next week.
“I still want to play the Masters and Open, if I can. I’ll try to make it later on,” he said.
Ding already played the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club by winning the U.S. Junior Amateur the previous year at Bandon Dunes.
The Asia-Pacific Amateur was forced to a long Sunday because of heavy rain Friday in the foothills of Mount Fuji, along with fog, that suspended competition.
Zhou moved into a share of the 54-hole lead with a 65 in the third round.
“I’m happy about the performance all week,” Zhou said. “I didn’t make like a big mistake. I hit every tee shot good. Probably missed a couple, but I only got six bogeys through four days on this course. I’m very happy for him. The trophy is back on Team China now.”
Rintaro Nakano, who held the 36-hole lead, went 70-67 on Sunday and finished third.
The Asia-Pacific Amateur next year goes to the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai.
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The Associated Press
