Malaysia will be represented by six players in the third edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship (WAAP), which tees off at Siam Country Club in Pattaya next week (March 12-15).
The Malaysian squad is made up of the US-based quartet of Natasha Andrea Oon (WAGR ranking 132), Loy Hee Ying (233), Jocelyn Chee (556) and Winnie Ng (569), along with Mirabel Ting (216) and Jeneath Wong (703) who are both based in Australia.
Oon will be making her third successive appearance in the event with her best finish of T27 coming last year in Japan, while Loy and Ting will be playing for the second year running. Ng is taking part for the second time having played in the inaugural event in Singapore. Chee and Wong are both making their debuts.
At age 14, Ting is the youngest player in this year’s championship. Based at The Hills Academy in Australia, the feisty teenager is keen to do well and make up for last year when she missed the cut by one shot.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in the WAAP 2020 against the top players in the region. It’s a great event as it gives the lady amateurs from the region the opportunity to play in a top-flight tournament and get more experience,” said Ting, who hails from the oil-rich city of Miri in Sarawak.
“I hope to get into the top 10 this year and will definitely do my very best, although I have not played Siam Country Club before,” she added.
The WAAP was developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to unearth developing talent and provide a pathway for Asia’s elite women amateurs to emerge onto the international stage. The winner of the prestigious tournament will earn starts in two Major championships – the AIG Women’s British Open and The Evian Championship – as well as invitations to the Honda LPGA Thailand, the Hana Financial Group Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA).
The championship will feature 83 players from 20 Asia-Pacific countries with Thailand, as the host nation, having the largest contingent of eight.
