Dahiya and Mishra lead Indian charge at Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

India’s Rakshit Dahiya and Anshul Mishra produced steady opening rounds of even-par 72 to finish tied 20th after Day 1 of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Majlis Course, Emirates Golf Club, Dubai.

The opening day saw a flurry of low scores, with Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee, Australia’s Billy Dowling, and Vietnam’s Khanh Hung Le sharing the lead at 6-under 66, as 19 players broke par on a course that has hosted some of golf’s biggest names.

Dahiya, starting on the front nine, looked poised for a strong finish after climbing into the top 10 with three birdies in his first ten holes. However, four bogeys between the 12th and 16th holes halted his progress before a final-hole birdie steadied his round.

Mishra, the reigning All India Amateur champion, teed off early and fought back impressively after a two-over front nine, carding birdies on the 11th and 14th for a bogey-free back stretch. The 17-year-old, playing his first AAC, showed maturity beyond his years to close even par.

Among the other Indians, Raghav Gulati shot 73 (T-31), Ranveer Mitroo 74 (T-43), and Harman Sachdeva 79 (T-84). Gulati’s local knowledge of the Majlis course, where he regularly competes, helped him stay consistent with just two bogeys all day.

The leaderboard remains tightly packed, but with three rounds remaining, both Dahiya and Mishra have given India a solid start and a chance to contend deep into the week at Asia’s most prestigious amateur event.

Photo – Rakshit Dahiya/AAC

Story – Anand Krishnaswamy in Dubai