WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Defending champion, Jeneath Wong, returns to the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) Championship this week chasing history, and determined to prove her breakthrough triumph was no one-off.
The Malaysian golfer tees off at Royal Wellington Golf Club here aiming to become the first player to successfully defend the prestigious women’s amateur crown since its inception in 2018.
The 21-year-old etched her name into the record books last year when she became the first Malaysian to win the WAAP title, edging Korea’s Soomin Oh by a single stroke after a decisive third-round 64.
“I’m obviously very grateful to be here as the defending champion. I’m looking forward to this week and it’s very exciting,” she said ahead of the tournament.
Armed with added power and experience gained from competing alongside LPGA Tour stars, Jeneath believes her game has evolved since her Vietnam breakthrough.
“I think now I’m a lot stronger. I’ve gained a couple more metres, so it will benefit me when hitting into the greens with shorter irons,” she said.
She faces a strong 84-player field from 25 Asia-Pacific nations, including several top-50 players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Victory would once again earn the champion exemptions into three major championships and other elite amateur events, stakes that underline the magnitude of the week ahead.
