Keita Nakajima validates No. 1 status with Asia-Pacific Amateur title, Masters invitation

There may be no better way for the top amateur player in the world to validate his status than with an invitation to the Masters. After prevailing in a two-hole playoff, Keita Nakajima, the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for the past 28 weeks, is headed to Augusta National as the winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur. He becomes the third player from Japan to win the title, joining two-time AAC winner Hideki Matsuyama – now also a Masters champion – and Takumi Kanaya.

Nakajima, 21, made a bit more history, too, by becoming just the second playoff winner in the event’s history.

“I am very proud of what I have achieved,” Nakajima said. “To follow in the footsteps of Hideki-san and Takumi feels great. I am so excited that I will be playing three majors in 2022. I am very thankful for the tournament for giving us such great opportunities.”

Scores: Asia-Pacific Amateur

Earlier this year, Nakajima was awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the world’s top-ranked amateur, which earned him a spot in the U.S. Open. The AAC gets him into the Masters and British Open.

Nakajima took a one-shot lead into the final round at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He birdied three of his first five holes on Saturday, but Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, who plays college golf for Notre Dame, remained on his heels after having made up considerable ground in Round 3 with a bogey-free 64.

Nakajima’s biggest stumble came at the ninth, where he made double bogey. He made up for it with three birdies on the back nine, but Kho’s final-round 65 to Nakajima’s 68 allowed Kho to catch the favorite at 14 under for the championship.

The two played the 18^th hole twice in sudden death and ultimately Nakajima won with a birdie the second time. Kho’s finish goes down as Hong Kong’s best in the 12-year history of the championship.

As junior golfers, Nakajima and Kho competed against each other, but Kho noted he hadn’t seen Nakajima for three or four years. Still, knowing what Nakajima has accomplished motivates him.

Keita Nakajima of Japan celebrates winning the 2021 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. (Photo by AAC)

“To be able to go head-to-head against him is truly an honor,” he said. “It was really nice seeing him play these last two holes and he’s the best in the world. It just motivates me because I feel like I’m not that far off. I feel like I’ve learned a lot in two holes playing with him and I feel like I can bridge the gap.”

Korea’s Wooyoung Cho and China’s Bo Jin tied for third at 12 under. Defending champion Yuxin Lin, who was looking to become the first three-time AAC winner, was also a factor all week before falling to a tie for seventh with a final-round even-par 71.

Even though he remained on Nakajima’s heels for three rounds, Lin felt he didn’t have his A game all week.

“Just got to keep grinding out there and just try to play the best that you can with whatever you have, and I felt like I did that pretty well for the most part just made some mistakes today which killed the momentum but still a great learning experience.”