Six of Malaysia’s leading amateurs will carry the nation’s hopes in this week’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship (WAAP), which starts tomorrow at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Current top Malaysian amateur Natasha Andrea Oon, ranked 49th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), will be joined by fellow US collegiate golfers Ashley Lau (WAGR 70), Liyana Durisic (WAGR 173), Audrey Tan (WAGR 224) and Winnie Ng (WAGR 670), along with promising teenager Foong Zi Yu (WAGR 1186).
Organised by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the WAAP returns after a year’s gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Korea’s Youmin Hwang and China’s Xiaowen Yin, ranked fourth and seventh respectively in the WAGR, headline a strong field in the third edition of the prestigious championship.
78 players from 15 nations will vie for the title of champion golfer, who will secure places in two major championships, the AIG Women’s Open and The Amundi Evian Championship, as well as the Hana Bank Championship and an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The championship was won in its inaugural year by Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, who recently won the Ladies European Tour’s season-long Race to Costa Del Sol. The 2018 field also featured Japan’s Yuka Saso and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit who both became major champions this year winning the US Women’s Open and ANA Inspiration respectively. The 2019 edition of the WAAP was won by Japan’s Yuka Yasuda.
Youmin Hwang of Korea (Photo by The R&A)
Hwang, winner of the Korean Women’s Amateur and Bitgoeuljungheung Cup in back-to-back starts in June and July, is coming off a tied 21st and a tied seventh finish on the Korean LPGA Tour and is looking forward to making a mark on the championship in her first time competing outside of Korea.
“A lot is new because this is my first time playing internationally. This is the first time I have experienced playing on grass like this. The emphasis today was on approach shots around the greens and wedge shots within 100 yards as the texture of grass is different. If I focus on myself, I think there will be good results for me.
Yin has been an unstoppable force back home, where she has not finished outside the top-ten in any of her last 13 starts dating back to the National Amateur Tour Leg 1 in the first week of August 2020.
“Obviously, with so many amazing players from so many countries, the competition is going to be tough,” said Yin. “I am playing well and my confidence is high. So, let’s see how it goes this week.”
The host UAE team comprises Alia Al Emadi and Hamda Al Suwaidi, who have been a regular part of the national team, and India’s Natalii Gupta and Hannah Cheryl Alanm, who have been nominated by Emirates Golf Federation.
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: “We are looking forward to a fantastic Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship in Abu Dhabi this week. We have a strong field led by two players in the top-ten in the world and some very talented girls who will be looking to lift the trophy on Saturday. Our aims for this championship are to provide a platform for these talented players and, in many cases, aspiring professionals to shine at the same time as inspiring emerging players to learn to compete at the highest level. WAAP has already been incredibly successful in giving a springboard to players like Atthaya Thitikul and Yuka Saso and we are excited to see who will follow in their footsteps in the years to come.”
Taimur Hassan, chairman of APGC, added: “Over the years, our women players have led the way when it comes to major professional championships or global amateur events. We had a wonderful week with our men’s event in Dubai last week and we hope to continue the same at the fantastic Abu Dhabi Golf Club with our leading women golfers. After two years of suffering caused by Covid-19, we are delighted that with the help of the Emirates Golf Federation we are able to host this wonderful championship once again.”
The WAAP was developed by The R&A and APGC to unearth emerging talent and provide a pathway for Asia’s elite women amateurs to the international stage. The R&A launched the Women in Golf Charter in 2018 and is committed to increasing the participation of women in the sport. The WAAP is one of several key championships conducted by the governing body and a significant initiative along with the APGC to drive the popularity of women’s golf in the region.
The WAAP is supported by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Hana Financial Group, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Rolex, Samsung and Trust Golf. For more information, visit the website at randa.org/WAAP.
