Bogor, West Java, Indonesia: Yutaka Toyoshima maintained his vice-like grip on the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Mid-Amateur Championship trophy with a high-class final-round display. 

Triumphant in last year’s inaugural event, the 49-year-old Japanese completed back-to-back successes thanks to an accomplished closing four-under-par 67 over the undulating East Course at Gunung Geulis Country Club.

With a 54-hole aggregate of six-under 207, Toyoshima finished five strokes clear of runner-up Zachary Kristian and six in front of third-placed Luke Moore, both from Indonesia. 

However, neither was victory as comfortable nor as clearcut as his eight-stroke winning margin at Jakarta’s Gading Raya Golf Club last year.

Indeed, heading into the final nine holes at Gunung Geulis, Toyoshima’s two-shot overnight advantage had been trimmed to one by 27-year-old Kristian.

With the challenges of Indonesian Alit Jiwandana and Japan’s Hiroki Chino faltering, the prospect of an intriguing match play-style head-to-head back nine duel between Toyoshima and Kristian appeared on the cards.

It was then, though, that the guile and experience of the five-time Japan Mid-Amateur champion, who reached a high of 385th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, proved decisive.

Toyoshima’s lead returned to two when Kristian bogeyed the par-five 10th. Sensing his moment, the Japanese then smoothly shifted up a gear with birdies at 11 and 12. All of a sudden, the defending champion was four shots in front – and effectively home free. 

A six-foot birdie putt at the short 15th enabled him to extend his lead further and coast through the last three holes. The only mild disappointment was leaving his birdie attempt at 18 inches short of the cup. Although it had no bearing on the outcome, his reaction underlined the seriousness with which Toyoshima went about retaining the title.

“I came here to win this championship again. That was my target,” said Toyoshima who had 14 birdies against eight bogeys over the three rounds. There was only one dropped shot on the final day, at the fourth.

APGC Board member Nishi Yoshihiro said: “Congratulations to Yutaka on his successful title defence. We look forward to welcoming him back next year when he’ll be going for a hat-trick.

“Our thanks to Secretary-General Suharsono and his team at the Indonesia Golf Association for all their support and to the management and staff at Gunung Geulis for their hospitality.”

The championship attracted entries from nine countries or territories and was staged in four age divisions: Group A (ages 25 to 29); Group B (ages 30 to 37), Group C (ages 38 to 46) and Group D (aged 47 and above). Divisional winners were Kristian, Jiwandana, Ramun Singh (on a countback from fellow-Indian Raj Randhawa) and Chino.

There was further silverware for Kristian and Jiwandana, who led Indonesia 1 to a tense win, along with Andy Sjaichudin, in the team championship. In the event in which the best two daily scores in each three-strong team were counted, the Indonesian trio received the Yapto Suryosoemarno Cup, donated by Yapto S. Soerjosoemarno, Chairman of the Indonesia Golf Association, after finishing one stroke ahead of a Japan 1 line-up including Toyoshima, Koichi Mizukami and Shigeta Hattory.

Added satisfaction for Kristian came from the fact that he ended in front of Moore in the overall standings, sweet revenge for finishing runner-up to him in this year’s Gunung Geulis Club Championship. Big-hitting Moore made eight birdies in a best-of-the day 66 but was left to rue a bogey at the par-five 10th that stalled his momentum.

There were celebrations also for Hong Kong’s Syren Johnstone who recorded the first hole-in-one of his life at the 149-yard 16th. “It was a wonderful feeling,” said Johnstone, who is believed to be the only player to have participated in three different APGC championships – the Nomura Cup, the APGC Seniors and the Mid-Am.

Johnstone’s ace was the second in APGC Mid-Am history and the second of the week, the first coming from Indonesian Raul Septianda at the second hole on day one.

Hosted by the Indonesia Golf Association, the APGC Mid-Amateur Championship was open to amateur golfers who had reached their 25th birthday as of June 25, 2026, and whose WHS handicap index at the time of entry did not exceed 8.0.