WENYI DING WINS 2024 AAC IN DRAMATIC FASHION

China's Wenyi Ding won the 2024 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Sunday after a final-round 67, his fourth consecutive 67 at the par-70 Taiheiyo Club Gotemba.

- 

The 12-under total was enough to edge fellow China countryman Ziqin Zhou by one stroke as the field battled rainy conditions throughout the week in the foothills of Mount Fuji. The win marks the fifth victory by a Chinese player in the 15 editions of the Championship, the most by any country.

"It feels really good. Last year I lost in the playoff and just felt I couldn't play any better.

And this year I got the trophy, it's amazing," said Ding. "Before I played No. 17 I didn't want to play for a birdie. I just wanted to save a par. I felt nervous on the birdie putt (on 18).

I don't know why but it went three or four feet by. I was able to hole it." Ding entered the Championship as the highestranked player in the field at No. 5 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He fell on the second hole of a playoff at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship held at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.