SHIZUOKA, Japan — Wenyi Ding capped off a marathon Sunday with a 3-under 67 that carried the 19-year-old from China to a one-shot victory within the Asia-Pacific Novice and a spot within the Masters and the Open Championship subsequent yr.
The majors might need to attend. Golf Digest reported that Ding plans to take up European tour membership via the brand new “International Novice Pathway.” The Masters and British Open usually require gamers to stay an newbie to make use of such exemptions.
Ding, the freshman of the yr at Arizona State final season, needed to play 14 holes to finish a 67 that left him tied for the 54-hole lead with Ziqin Zhou of China. He pulled forward within the remaining spherical when Zhou made bogey on the second gap and Ding birdied the third, and there was loads of drama on the finish.
Zhou, an 18-year-old who performs for the California Golden Bears, birdied the 18th for a 68 to tie for the lead. Ding regained the lead along with his remaining birdie on the seventeenth, a 239-yard par-3, the place he hit his tee shot to six ft.
On the par-5 closing gap at Taiheiyo Membership Gotemba, Ding discovered a bunker off the tee, laid up and hit his third to the again of the inexperienced. He ran his putt about 4 ft by the outlet and made the par putt for the win.
Ding, a former U.S. Junior Novice champion and at No. 5 the highest-ranked newbie within the area, completed at 12-under 268 and atoned for a playoff loss within the Asia-Pacific Novice final yr at Royal Melbourne.
“It feels actually good,” Ding stated. “Final yr I misplaced within the playoff and simply felt I could not play any higher. And this yr I bought the trophy. It is superb.”
He turns into the fifth participant from China to win within the 15 years of the Asia-Pacific Novice.
Ding selected to not return to Arizona State for his sophomore yr as a result of the International Novice Pathway is for the main participant from the highest 20 on this planet newbie rating who is just not competing in school.
Ding advised Golf Digest that the choice is tough, but it surely’s greater than possible he’ll take a European tour card and will flip professional as early as subsequent week.
“I nonetheless wish to play the Masters and Open, if I can. I am going to attempt to make it in a while,” he stated.
Ding already performed the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Nation Membership by profitable the U.S. Junior Novice the earlier yr at Bandon Dunes.
The Asia-Pacific Novice was pressured to a protracted Sunday due to heavy rain Friday within the foothills of Mount Fuji, together with fog, that suspended competitors.
The event was pressured to a protracted Sunday due to heavy rain Friday within the foothills of Mount Fuji, together with fog, that suspended competitors.
Zhou moved right into a share of the 54-hole lead with a 65 within the third spherical.
“I am comfortable in regards to the efficiency all week,” Zhou stated. “I did not make like a giant mistake. I hit each tee shot good. In all probability missed a pair, however I solely bought six bogeys via 4 days on this course. I am very comfortable for him. The trophy is again on Workforce China now.”
Rintaro Nakano, who held the 36-hole lead, went 70-67 on Sunday and completed third.
The Asia-Pacific Novice subsequent yr goes to the Emirates Golf Membership in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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