Shaurya, Aryan and Krishnav make cut; China’s Jin leads at Asia Pacific

Chonburi (Thailand), October 28, 2022

Three of the seven Indians - Krishnav Nikhil Chopraa, Shaurya Bhattacharya and Aryan Roopa Anand - in the fray made the cut while others fell by the wayside at the 13th Asian Pacific Amateur Championship here on Friday.

Bhattacharya shot 4-under 68, while Anand carded 3-under 69 despite a double bogey at the finish and Chopraa just could not get the putts to fall in his 1-over 73.

Chopraa (70-73) continued to be the top Indian at T-42nd with a 1-under total while Bhattacharya (76-68) and Anand (75-69) at even par were T-47th.

The cut fell at 1-over with Top-50 and ties making the cut. The four Indians who missed out were Milind Soni (74-72), Rayhan Thomas (74-73), Shat Mishra (73-75) and Arjun Gupta (74-78).

China’s Bo Jin (65-69), whose brother Cheng won in 2015, stayed on course to adding to the family silverware. He led by one at the midway stage and was chased hard by the teen Thai star, Ratchanon Chantananuwat (67-68).

Anand, hoping to get into the Nomura Cup team following the pull out of Rayhan Thomas, who is unable to get time off from college in the US, said, “I played great for 17 holes, but a lapse led to a double on the last hole. Still I was happy to pull back with a 69. I hope I can make more ground over the weekend.”

Bhattacharya, whose coach Rahul Bajaj, a team silver medallist from 2010 Asian Games, was his caddie, said, “I am proud of the fightback after the first day 76. Especially, the three birdies from 15th to 17th and the way I hung in for the first 13 holes with two birdies and no bogeys. It was great to have my coach, Rahul Sir, on the bag. It helped.”

Chopraa had a good start from the tenth with birdies on 15 and 16. After that many putts did not fall and he had just one more birdie but dropped four bogeys for 73.

Bo Jin closed with a bogey on ninth, while Chantananuwat, who is called TK, birdied the sixth and eagled the eighth from 66-feet plus for a stunning finish.

A year ago, Bo had a similar 36-hole lead but finished tied third. He said, “I am in a great position and am obviously reminded of Dubai. I have played some great golf so far, and I hope to do the same over the weekend and finish the job.”

Two countries, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal had their golfers make the cut for the first time at the AAC. Jantai Malatev (73-69), whose country Kyrgyzstan has just one 9-hole golf course, was tied 33rd while Subhash Tamang (74-70) became the first player from Nepal to make the cut.

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