Mishra fires week’s best round of 68 to move into top-10 at Asia-Pacific Amateur

Anshul Mishra of India plays his stroke from the No. 8 tee during the third round of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship being played at the Emirates Golf Club Majlis Course in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Saturday 25 October 2025. Photograph by AAC.

Anand Krishnaswamy

Dubai: India’s Anshul Mishra produced his finest round of the week, firing a sparkling 4-under 68 to surge into the top-10 after the third round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course.

The 17-year-old from India, celebrating his birthday week, moved to 7-under for the tournament following earlier rounds of 72 and 69. On Saturday, he showed poise beyond his years — picking up birdies on the 2nd, 6th, 8th, 13th and 17th holes while conceding just one bogey on the 14th.

Among other Indians, Raghav Gulati (73-70-71) was tied-20th at 2-under, while Rakshit Dahiya (72-72-74) was 2-over in tied-32nd. Ranveer Mitroo (74-71-77) was tied-49th and Harman Sachdeva had missed the cut.

At the top, Japan’s 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki seized command with a stunning 7-under 65 — the lowest round of the week — to reach 17-under and open up a five-shot lead over compatriot Rintaro Nakano (71). Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee followed in third at 11-under.

Reflecting on his performance, Mishra said, “I was three under on the front nine, which was great. I birdied the sixth and eighth — two of the tougher holes — and even rolled in a 30-footer on the second. I lost a bit of rhythm on the back nine but managed to finish strong with a birdie on 17.”

He added, “I feel I can still do better. This week has been encouraging since I hadn’t played my best internationally this year. The field here is strong — probably on par with the US Junior — but this one is special because it can take you to the Masters and The Open. That’s so cool.”

Australia’s Billy Dowling (68) and Harry Takis (73) were tied-fourth at 10-under along with Vietnam’s Khanh Hung Le (73). Korea’s Seonghyeon An sat seventh at 9-under, followed by Japan’s Kenishiro Katano, who made a hole-in-one, and China’s Xihuan Chang at 8-under. Mishra shared tenth with Thailand’s teenage star Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat at 7-under.

Nagasaki, ranked 135th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, broke the previous 54-hole record of 14-under and now looks poised to deliver Japan another champion after Hideki Matsuyama (2010, 2011), Takumi Kanaya (2018) and Keita Nakajima (2021).

“I wanted to be in a strong position going into Sunday, and I’m really happy with how I played,” said Nagasaki, who trains at Tommy Nakajima’s Academy and has promised his mentor they would “go to the Masters together.”

With one round to play, Nagasaki stands on the brink of history — while Mishra, playing with growing confidence, has given Indian golf plenty to cheer about heading into the final day.