Chikka best Indian at Asia-Pacific in 12th place
Seenappa Chikkrangappa ended the week the way he had begun with a three-under 69 to finish as the best Indian in tied 12th place at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Chonburi, Thailand today.
Chikka ended at five-under 283 for the week while Khalin Joshi despite an eagle managed only a one-under 71 and finished at three-under 285 in tied 14th place at the Amata Spring Country Club.
Chinese prodigy Guan Tianlang, 14, became the youngest winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship after a closing one-under 71 gave him a total of 15-under 273 and a nail-biting one-stroke victory here.
Of the other Indians, Angad Cheema 77-72-72-73 finished tied 30th, Udayan Mane (75-75-70-76) and Manav Das (79-71-75-71) was 33rd, while Honey Baisoya (76-72-76-75) was tied 43rd.
Guan, the youngest player in the field, completed a wire-to-wire victory that has earned him an invitation to next year's Masters Tournament. He has also secured a place in International Final Qualifying (IFQ) for The Open Championship along with runner-up Pan Cheng-tsung of Chinese Taipei, Asia's No. 2 amateur, who shot a 65 for a 14-under-par four-day total.
Australian teenager Oliver Goss (72) finished third at 12-under, two ahead of two-time champion Hideki Matsuyama (68), Asia's No. 1 amateur.
When the Masters begins next April, Guan is set to become the youngest competitor in the history of the Tournament at 14 years, five months and 17 days.
The previous record was established by Matteo Manassero in 2010, when the 16-year-old earned an invitation after winning the British Amateur Championship in 2009.
