Aryan best Indian at 38th as Harrison wins AAC, gets two Major starts and defers decision to turn pro

Chonburi, Thailand, Oct 30: Aryan Roopa Anand rounded off the week with a 1-under 71 that gave him the tied 38^th place at the 13^th Asia Pacific Amateur Championships at the Amata Spring Country Club. Aryan was the best Indian finisher of the week, as Krishnav Nikhil Chopraa (76) and Shaurya Bhattacharya (75) ended in tied 44^th and 47^th place respectively.

Aryan totalled 1-over 289, while Krishnav aggregated 5-over 293 and Shaurya had a 6-over 294 total.

The other four Indians, who started this week, Milind Soni, Rayhan Thomas, Shat Mishra and Arjun Gupta missed the halfway cut.

First-time Harrison Crowe, who admitted it was extremely challenging to come back earlier this year after a strict lockdown in Australia, virtually snatched away the coveted Asia Pacific Trophy from China’s Bo Jin, who was hoping to emulate his brother Cheng Jin’s win from 2015.

Crowe now gets starts at the 2023 Masters and the 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool. “This is the kind of a delay I wanted,” said a delighted Crowe on his plans to defer turning professional.

Bo, who holed out for an eagle from the bunker on the Par-4 12^th, seemed to have gone far ahead as he was 15-under and set to improve on his previous two finishes of Tied-eighth in 2019 and tied third last year. Bo was still one ahead when he came to the 14^th but then double bogeyed the 17^th and fell behind as Crowe held out.

Crowe, who had an inspiring chat with idol and 2013 Masters champion, Adam Scott, on his way back from an event in Japan last week, had other ideas on the back nine. He stitched together a great stretch with four birdies between 11^th and 15^th and could even afford the luxury of a bogey on 16^th, as Bo dropped a bogey on 13^th and then went into the water on the Island Green on 17^th for a double bogey. Bo fell to 12-under as Crowe rose to 13-under and won by one.

From an Indian point of view, Aryan, who is also toying with the idea of turning pro later this year or early next year, said, “It was a great experience. I feel I could have done a lot better. I know it is easy to say that, but I did give away a lot of shots with some small mistakes and they cost me a lot. I got punished for them. Yet, it was a great event, and I am richer in experience, having twice played in them. Hopefully this will help me as I move on in the game.”

Aryan had five birdies against four bogeys in his 71, while Chopraa had an eventful final round with five birdies, seven bogeys and a double bogey in his 76. Shaurya had two birdies against five bogeys in his 75.

Crowe confirmed the plan he had shared a day earlier, that he would stay amateur if he won the AAC. “I want to play the two Majors and I will go back home and decide if I want to stay on as an amateur to defend this title when the AAC comes to Australia next year,” added Crowe.