Two leading nations of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship Korea and Thailand return with strong teams this year whilst Qatar and Lebanon will make their debuts in the region’s premier women’s amateur championship.
The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship, to be held at the Singapore Island Country Club from March 9-12, will once again turn the spotlight on the region’s finest talent, as well as create a platform for players from developing nations to launch their dreams and aspire to reach the highest echelons in the sport.
The championship, shifted back to its original March dates after two rescheduled editions because of COVID-19-related adjustments, will feature a field of 85 players from 22 countries. For the first time it will feature two players from the top ten of the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR) as well as 17 of the top-100 players, hailing from leading nations including Japan, Korea, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Australia. It will also welcome players from Qatar and Lebanon – two countries making their debut in WAAP this year.
In 2023, the championship will witness Qatar and Lebanon making their debut.
"It’s a sign that the game is growing"
Qatar’s Nada Mir, 23, is a member of the national team. A trained animal rescuer, she won the gold medal in the Pan Arab Championship last year in Tunisia. Vanessa Richani, a 21-year-old senior at Long Beach State University majoring in fashion merchandising, will be flying the Lebanese flag.
Taimur Hassan Amin, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), was delighted with the addition of the two new nations in the championship and said, “It’s wonderful to have more countries being represented in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship. It’s a sign that the game is growing and becoming more popular among women here, especially in the Arab region.
"Unique opportunity to develop their game"
“It’s great that young players from Qatar and Lebanon have qualified for the WAAP through the WAGR. I’m hoping this will motivate young ladies in the Arab region, and other countries, to try harder to improve and take advantage of this unique opportunity to develop their game.”
Among some of the leading players who have confirmed their participation are two past champions – Japan’s Hashimoto, who won the 2021 championship in Abu Dhabi, and Huang, winner last year. Japan’s Rin Yoshida is the highest-ranked player in the field at number four.
Host nation Singapore will field the largest team of eight players, including Aloysa Margiela Atienza, Jaymie Ng and Inez Ng.
The WAAP was developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to inspire future generations of women golfers. It provides the champion with an unparalleled launchpad early in their career through exemptions into three major championships – AIG Women’s Open, the Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship as well as elite championships such as the Hana Financial Group Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The R&A is supported by championship event partners that share its commitment to developing golf in the Asia-Pacific. The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship is proudly supported by Rolex, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Hana Financial Group and Samsung.
