The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (APAC) is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments for amateur players in the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 2009, this championship aims to nurture and develop top golf talent by offering them a pathway to some of the most significant professional tournaments in the world. The 2024 edition, scheduled from October 3-6, 2024, promises to continue its legacy, hosted at the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course in Japan, with stunning views of Mount Fuji in the background.
Format and Structure
The APAC is played over 72 holes in a stroke-play format. After the first 36 holes, a cut is made for the top 60 players and ties, who will proceed to the final two rounds. In the event of a tie after 72 holes, the tournament champion will be decided by a sudden-death playoff.
Qualification and Field Composition
The 2024 APAC will feature 120 male amateur players selected from across the region. These players ware determined by various criteria, including:
- Automatic exemptions for past champions, who are eligible for five years after their victory, provided they maintain amateur status.
- The top five finishers from the 2023 championship also gain automatic entry.
- Players ranked on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) from each Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) member country will receive invitations. Each country can send its top two ranked players, and the host nation, Japan, will have four additional slots.
- If a member country has no players ranked in the WAGR, they may nominate one player with a handicap of 5.4 or less.
Exemptions and Awards
The APAC provides a gateway to major international tournaments for its participants. The champion will receive:
- An invitation to compete in the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
- An exemption into the 153rd Open Championship in 2025.
- An exemption into the 130th Amateur Championship in 2025.
The runner(s)-up will also receive significant rewards, including:
- A place in The Open Qualifying Series, offering a chance to qualify for The 153rd Open.
In addition, the champion is awarded the prestigious Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship Trophy and the Gold Medal, while the runners-up receive the Silver Medal.
Venue: Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course
The venue for the 2024 edition is the renowned Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course in Japan, located about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Designed by Shunsuke Kato and renovated in 2018 by Rees Jones with consultation from Hideki Matsuyama, the hillside course features breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. At 7,217 yards (6,599 meters) and a par 70, Gotemba has a rich history of hosting international golf events, including the Taiheiyo Masters and the 2001 World Cup of Golf.
APAC’s Prestigious History
Since its inception, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship has produced notable champions, many of whom have gone on to achieve global success. Some of the most memorable winners include:
- Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), the only player to win the APAC twice (2010, 2011) and who later made history as the first Japanese player to win the Masters Tournament in 2021.
- Tianlang Guan (China), who at just 14 years old, became the youngest champion in 2012 and went on to qualify for the Masters Tournament.
- Curtis Luck (Australia), the 2016 champion, who staged a remarkable final-round comeback with a bogey-free 67 to secure his victory.
- Yuxin Lin (China), a two-time APAC winner, who claimed his second title in 2019 with a thrilling playoff victory.
The APAC continues to be a stepping stone for players aspiring to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Keita Nakajima (Japan), the 2021 champion, and Harrison Crowe (Australia), the 2022 champion, are among the latest players to showcase their skills on this grand stage.
