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Yuxin Lin won the 2019 Asia-Pacific Amateur title, earning berths into the 2019 Masters and Open Championships.
Freshman Yuxin Lin Wins Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
September 29, 2019 | Men's Golf, Features
It is the Beijing-native's second title at the event, clinching 2019 berths at The Masters and The Open.
USC freshman Yuxin Lin overcame a two-shot deficit at the start of the day, let slip a one-stroke advantage on 18, and then bounced back to win a two-hole playoff to capture the 2019 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships on Sunday at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
Lin, also the 2017 champion, becomes just the second two-time winner of the event and earns berths into the 2019 Masters and Open Championships.
Playing on home soil, the Beijing-native birdied the 18th hole twice in a playoff to defeat world No. 1 and defending champion Takumi Kanaya. Lin birdied the first playoff hole from about 10 feet to stay alive and then used a tap-in birdie to win the championship thanks to a magical bunker shot that landed within inches of the cup.
Lin began the day two off the lead and finished at 10-under 278 (68-71-71-68), tied with Kanaya. Lin bogeyed 18 to give Kanaya the opportunity in the event's first-ever playoff.
"It definitely means a lot to me, especially this week, winning at home is certainly huge for me and for China golf, as well," Lin said, whose father was on the bag for him this week. "I'm just really honored to be alongside Hideki (Matsuyama) as a two-time winner."
After a birdie on 18 in the first round, he played the hole at 4-over the next three days before his back-to-back birdies in the playoff.
"I was having a little trouble with the 18th three days in a row. We knew there were extra holes coming up and stepping on the 18th again wasn't a great feeling for me," Lin said. "And especially that lie off the tee shot, in the first extra hole, definitely not what you wanted. But at least everything turned out pretty well, so I'm pretty satisfied."
Trojan junior transfer Leon D'Souza also played in the event, finishing at 10-over 154 (78-76), missing the cut by one shot.
Lin, also the 2017 champion, becomes just the second two-time winner of the event and earns berths into the 2019 Masters and Open Championships.
Playing on home soil, the Beijing-native birdied the 18th hole twice in a playoff to defeat world No. 1 and defending champion Takumi Kanaya. Lin birdied the first playoff hole from about 10 feet to stay alive and then used a tap-in birdie to win the championship thanks to a magical bunker shot that landed within inches of the cup.
Lin began the day two off the lead and finished at 10-under 278 (68-71-71-68), tied with Kanaya. Lin bogeyed 18 to give Kanaya the opportunity in the event's first-ever playoff.
"It definitely means a lot to me, especially this week, winning at home is certainly huge for me and for China golf, as well," Lin said, whose father was on the bag for him this week. "I'm just really honored to be alongside Hideki (Matsuyama) as a two-time winner."
After a birdie on 18 in the first round, he played the hole at 4-over the next three days before his back-to-back birdies in the playoff.
"I was having a little trouble with the 18th three days in a row. We knew there were extra holes coming up and stepping on the 18th again wasn't a great feeling for me," Lin said. "And especially that lie off the tee shot, in the first extra hole, definitely not what you wanted. But at least everything turned out pretty well, so I'm pretty satisfied."
Trojan junior transfer Leon D'Souza also played in the event, finishing at 10-over 154 (78-76), missing the cut by one shot.
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