Aussie plots bold bid for Asia-Pacific Amateur title

Steve Larkin | October 31, 2026

Australia’s Harry Takis know he’s a long shot – and he’s planning plenty of them in a bold bid for the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship title.

Takis is plotting a daring attack on the challenging Te Arai Links course in New Zealand in Sunday’s finale.

The 21-year-old Queenslander enters the last round six shots shy of the leader after a shooting three-under 68 on Saturday.

“Anything can happen,” Takis said.

“If there’s flags that I feel like I can go at – and sometimes I would try and maybe steer a little clear of – I’m probably just going to fire at tomorrow.

“Because you shoot 70, 69, 68, you’re not going to win. You need to go and shoot 65.”

Takis is the top-ranked amateur in the field in the championship with a coveted prize: entry into next year’s US Masters and British Open.

The rising Brisbane-born golfer started his second round sluggishly – two over through seven holes.

But from the ninth, he peeled off four consecutive birdies, and finished with six birdies in his last 10 holes.

“I always knew it was possible,” Takis said of the hot streak.

“I just wasn’t executing the way I wanted to.

“And then, yeah, you see a couple go where you want them to go and that becomes a lot easier. It’s a weird game like that.”

Takis, tied for fifth, is among a pack chasing local hope Zack Swanwick after the New Zealander posted four-under 67 for the second consecutive day to move to seven under and a two-shot lead.

Swanwick grabbed the lead from Thailand’s defending champion Fifa Laopakdee, who has lost ground since an eight under opening round – his Friday 72 was followed by a two-over 73.

Laopakdee, at five under overall, is tied for second with another Kiwi, Cooper Moore.

Australia’s Jonty Lunson, who logged a 72 on Saturday, is tied for ninth at two over alongside countryman Kayun Mudadana, who was even par in his third round.

Compatriot Harrison Gomez, after being the leading Australian overnight, slipped with a 77 and is six over for the tournament and tied for 19th.

The other Australians to make the cut are also out of contention: Wesley Hinton is 13 over and Sam Cascio is 16 over.

This article was made possible with support from the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship