Gotemba, Japan: Defending champion Jasper Stubbs will lock horns once more with Ding Wenyi when the 15th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) tees-off here tomorrow.

At Royal Melbourne Golf Club last October, Australian Stubbs outlasted China’s Ding in a sudden-death play-off to claim a victory that earned him starts in this year's Masters Tournament and 152nd Open Championship.

Two of the pre-tournament favourites here, Stubbs and Ding have been drawn together for the first two rounds at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba. Joining them in an intriguing marquee grouping is Rintaro Nakano, the top-ranked member of the 10-strong Japanese contingent.

In Thursday’s opening round, the trio will tee-off from the first tee at 11:51 am in what is the fourth from last group out. They will return for a 7:36 am start from the 10th tee on Friday.

While Stubbs is seeking to follow in the footsteps of Hideki Matsuyama (2010 and 2011) and become only the second player in AAC history to successfully defend his title, for Ding this week’s championship will mark his swansong as an amateur.

Currently fourth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), 19-year-old Ding has announced his intention to join the ranks of the professionals next week to take advantage of enticing opportunities to gain playing rights on the DP World Tour.

In so doing, if he were to triumph at Gotemba he would forego the chance to play in the Masters and Open Championship next year.

“No matter what my result (in Gotemba), I will turn pro after the Asia-Pacific Amateur. I can’t wait for half a year for The Masters. It costs me too much (not to turn pro),” said Ding, winner of the 2022 US Junior Amateur, who has cut short his time at Arizona State University.

Stubbs and Nakano may soon follow Ding and turn professional. But for now, their undivided attention is focused on the region’s premier amateur championship.

Stubbs said: “It’s an amazing golf course. It’s very tight off the tee so driving is going to be pretty important. But it’s nice and soft at the moment. The greens are quick downhill, so it will be interesting to see how the rest of the week plays out with how they firm it up or speed up the greens.

“I’m grateful to be the defending champion. Coming back as defending champion, it fills me with a bit of confidence. No matter how this week goes, I’ll always have the memories and the appearances of the last 12 months and what I did this time last year. So I think there’s no added pressure for me.”

Nakano, winner of last year’s Japan Amateur Championship and now 109th in the WAGR, is also anxious to produce a strong performance on home soil.

He said: “I’m very honoured to compete in this tournament in Japan. Last year, I competed and I got a lot of experience … but not a good result. So, this week is my revenge tournament! Of course I want to win here in Japan. But first is to enjoy the golf.”