In a stunning display of skill and composure, 16-year-old Japanese golfer Taisei Nagasaki has taken a commanding five-shot lead at the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) held at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. Nagasaki’s third-round score of seven-under-par 65 has placed him at 17-under 199, setting a new 54-hole tournament record and positioning him as the clear favorite heading into the final round on Sunday. The young prodigy, who has been a standout performer throughout the week, is now on the verge of etching his name in the annals of amateur golf history. Nagasaki’s performance has been marked by precision and consistency, following earlier rounds of 67 and 67. His closest competitors, Japan’s Rintaro Nakano and Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee, trail at 12-under and 11-under, respectively. The tournament, one of the most prestigious in amateur golf, offers the winner an invitation to the Masters Tournament and an exemption into The Open. Nagasaki, who has already achieved notable success this year, including co-medalist honors at the Toyota Junior World Cup, expressed his determination to follow in the footsteps of past champions like Keita Nakajima, who won the AAC in 2021. Meanwhile, UAE’s Ahmad Skaik has been a strong representative for the Middle East, currently sitting at six-under-par. The championship has also seen historic performances, including 17-year-old Geoffrey Laklak becoming the first Lebanese player to make the cut. The final round promises to be a thrilling conclusion to a week of exceptional golf.