JADEN Dumdumaya may have to look forward to next year in his quest for glory in the Asia Pacific Amateur Golf Championship after firing a second straight 2-over-par 73 in the second round Friday at Te Arai Links’s South Course in New Zealand.
Shinichi Suzuki, the other Philippine bet in Asia’s most prestigious amateur championship, did not do any better, carding a 6-over-par 77, making the cut on the number at the 13 over.
Dumdumaya is 4-over for the tournament at 146 and Suzuki is at 155 which put them far in the chase for the title.
Strong winds wrought havoc on the field, not exempting overnight leader Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand, the defending champion, who, however, held on to the lead.
The Thai teen star, shot a 1-over-par 72 and saw his three-shot lead narrowed to two, and is 7-under for the tournament, after shooting 8-under-par 63 in the opening round.
The strong winds not only affected how the players shaped their shots, it has also affected their putting.
Recalling one hole, Laopakdee said: “I had a five footer two holes in a row and the ball just snapped 90 degrees. I aimed a foot left from five feet and it went like three feet right. It’s pretty tricky. Overall, it was a grind out there and I would take 7 under for the first two rounds.”
Dumdumaya, interviewed after his round, said: “I’ve putted in wind like this but when the greens are this firm and tight it’s hard to place the ball on the green without it even moving a little bit. I’m not used to the firmness and tightness of the greens adding on to the wind. But the conditions right now are pretty tough.”
Dumdumaya may need his best stuff in Friday’s third round if he hopes to challenge for the title. A victory here includes an invite to the Masters and the Open Championship.
Leading the chase is Cooper Moore of New Zealand, apparently enjoying homecourt familiarity, who shot a 1-under-par 70, and is two strokes behind at 5 under.
Two other Kiwis followed with Ryan Xie firing a 71 and is 4 under for the event, and Zack Swanwick, shooting the day’s best round of 4-under par 67, in fourth place, a stroke back.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
