Gotemba, Japan: Ding Wenyi is not the only high-profile participant from last week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) to confirm an imminent switch to the ranks of the professionals.

Following his victory at the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba on Sunday, China’s Ding indicated he’d be joining the DP World Tour via a Global Amateur Pathway.

Also announcing plans to relinquish their amateur status in the aftermath of the 15th edition of the AAC are the Australian trio of Jasper Stubbs, Quinn Croker and Phoenix Campbell along with Singaporean Ryan Ang.

Stubbs was the 2023 AAC winner, defeating Ding and Sampson Zheng, also from China, in a play-off at Royal Melbourne.

After finishing his title defence in a share of 32nd place, Stubbs will be the first of this year’s Australian AAC contingent to play as a professional.

From Gotemba he faced 16 hours of flight time to reach Western Australia for the resumption of the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia at the CKB WA PGA Championship in Kalgoorlie.

Meanwhile, Croker will tackle the first stage of Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School in Florida in the United States from October 15-18 before taking up the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia membership he earned by winning the Future Tour category last season.

The reigning Australian Amateur and Queensland Amateur champion closed with his best round of the week in Japan, a two-under 68, to be one-over overall and tied for 19th.

Campbell ended in a share of 13th in Japan after closing with a 68. Campbell has just one tournament left to play as an amateur, this week’s Japan Open at Tokyo Golf Club, before he switches to the professional ranks.

Campbell will take up the two-year exemption available to him courtesy of his win at the Queensland PGA Championship last year. The Victorian’s debut as a pro will come at the 100th WA Open, starting on October 17 at Mandurah Golf and Country Club.

Also launching his professional career in Australia will be 25-year-old Ang, the leading Singapore finisher at the AAC in joint 13th place.

Ang said: “I’m pretty excited to play professional golf now. The Australian season starts immediately after AAC with its first event and it makes sense to kick-start my professional career as I have my full Tour card there.

“I will try to make the transition as seamless as possible. Hopefully, the success I’ve had in amateur golf will translate to pro golf. My goal is to keep my card on the Australian Tour and try to qualify for the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour – and ultimately to play in the 2026 Asian Games and the Olympics.”