KUALA LUMPUR: Nateesh Ganesh emerged as Malaysia’s best performer at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship after finishing joint 27th at Te Arai Links in New Zealand on Sunday.
The 21-year-old, one of only two Malaysians to survive the halfway cut from a seven-strong contingent, signed off with a two-over 73 for a 10-over 294 total.
It was a career-best finish for Nateesh, who previously finished joint 63rd at Royal Melbourne in 2023.
His closing round featured four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey as he continued to battle the windy conditions that troubled competitors throughout the championship.
Compatriot Danish Rizal finished 58th after a final-round 82 left him on 31-over 315.
Anson Yeo, Hariz Hezri, Aiden Kei, Afham Othman and Maverick Chua all failed to progress beyond the second round.
Despite falling short of his pre-tournament ambitions, Nateesh was encouraged by his performance.
“It was a great week. Tournament was fine, could have been better. But yeah, I had fun,” said the Loyola Marymount University golfer.
“It was a lot of learning.”
Nateesh hopes to return for next year’s championship at Hoiana Shores in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee successfully defended his title with a closing one-under 70 for a six-under 278 total, three strokes clear of overnight leader Zack Swanwick of New Zealand.
Australia’s Kayun Mudadana finished third after a final-round 67.
Fifa became only the second player after Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (2010-11) to win consecutive titles.
His victory earned him coveted invitations to next year’s Masters at Augusta National and The Open at St Andrews.