DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Pongsapak "Fifa" Laopakdee rallied from a six-shot deficit with a 4-under 68 and beat 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki of Japan on the third playoff to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur, sending him to the Masters and the Open Championship next year.

Laopakdee, a junior at Arizona State, became the first player from Thailand to win the championship that began in 2010.

The winning shot for Laopakdee turned out to be a 6-iron that cleared the water with inches to spare on the 18th of the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, staying on the slope just beyond the yellow hazard line. From there, it was a simple up-and-down for his fifth straight birdie dating to the 17th hole in regulation.

Laopakdee said he had told Arizona State coach Matt Thurmond, "I'll win this event

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