Latest news with #Women'sAmateurAsia-Pacific
New Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Jeneath missess cut at Chevron Championship
KUALA LUMPUR: It wasn't the dream debut national golfer Jeneath Wong had hoped for, as she missed the cut at the Chevron Championship in the United States. The 20-year-old failed to make it to the weekend rounds after carding rounds of 78 and 76 at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Her two-day total of 10-over 154 saw her finish tied for 128th with three-time LPGA Tour champion Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand. Jeneath ended up eight shots adrift of the 36-hole cut mark, which was set at two-over 146. The course proved a tough test, with even some of the world's top players only just scraping through. World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the US made the cut on one-over 145, while Thailand's world No. 2 Atthaya Thitikul narrowly advanced on the number. The US$8 million (RM35 million) event - the first of five majors of the LPGA Tour season - is currently led by China's Liu Yan, who sits atop the leaderboard (seven-under 137). Jeneath earned her place in the 132-player field after winning the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) Championship in Vietnam last month. Despite the early exit, the rising star still has much to look forward to. As the WAAP champion, she has also secured starts at two other majors - the Amundi Evian Championship in France (July 10-13) and the AIG Women's Open in Wales (July 30-Aug 3). Before that, Jeneath will turn her focus to collegiate golf as she aims to help Pepperdine University qualify for the NCAA Championships in California (May 16-21) via the NCAA Lexington Regional in Kentucky (May 5-7).
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Jeneath looking to savour Chevron Championship debut
KUALA LUMPUR: Golfer Jeneath Wong is ready to make a big impression on her debut at the Chevron Championship which begins in the United States tomorrow (April 24). The tournament — the first of five majors on the LPGA Tour — will take place at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas, offering a world-class stage for the 20-year-old Malaysian rising star. Jeneath secured her spot in the elite 132-player field by winning the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) in Hoi An, Vietnam last month. She will be one of only eight amateurs teeing off alongside the game's biggest names — including world No. 1 Nelly Korda, Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul and New Zealand's Lydia Ko — in the US$8 million (RM35.26 million) showcase. Her presence also ensures Malaysia will be represented on the LPGA Tour for the first time this season, albeit in a one-off appearance for now. This marks Jeneath's second major championship appearance following her debut at the 2023 US Women's Open, where she missed the halfway cut by just three shots after qualifying through sectional play. "It's going to be my first appearance at the Chevron Championship and I'm looking forward to it!" said Jeneath recently. "It'll be fun and I just want to soak up the experience and learn from playing with the LPGA players, who I want to compete with in the future." Currently in her third year at Pepperdine University in California, Jeneath is enjoying a strong run of form. She finished a commendable third at the West Coast Conference Championship recently, further fueling her confidence after her WAAP triumph. "My confidence has definitely increased following my WAAP victory," she added. Jeneath becomes only the fourth Malaysian to play in the Chevron Championship after Lim Siew Ai, Kelly Tan, and Natasha Andrea Oon. Of the trio, Kelly has the most appearances (five), with her best result being a tied-37th finish in 2020. As the reigning WAAP champion, Jeneath's schedule will only get busier. She's also earned invitations to two other majors — the Amundi Evian Championship in July and the AIG Women's Open in August. Despite the challenges of juggling a packed playing calendar with her academic responsibilities, Jeneath is grateful for the support she's receiving. "It will definitely be tough managing my time with all the big tournaments and college events, not to mention missing classes, but my school has been very supportive. They are helping me the best they can with everything," noted Jeneath.
USA Today
09-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jeneath Wong birdies 72nd hole to win Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific, earns final spot in ANWA field
Jeneath Wong birdies 72nd hole to win Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific, earns final spot in ANWA field Pepperdine junior Jeneath Wong has made a habit of finishing strong. The 20-year-old from Malaysia had birdied the 17th and 18th holes at Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Vietnam twice during the first three rounds of the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific. Little did she know she would need to be stellar down the stretch yet again for a life-changing victory. Wong became the first Malaysian to win WAAP, making a clutch par putt on the 16th before sticking her approach shot close on the par-3 17th to tie the lead. Wong then buried a 5 footer for birdie on the closing hole to finish at 18-under 266, the lowest winning total in WAAP history. "It feels unbelievable, and I'm actually still in shock that it happened," Wong said. Wong was born in Kuala Lumpur but moved to Australia when she was 10. After she poured in the winning putt, she was swarmed by Australian players and friends before fellow Malaysians celebrated with her the same way. With the victory, Wong earns exemptions in the AIG Women's Open and Amundi Evian Championship this summer and the Chevron Championship next month. Additionally, Wong also earned the final spot in the field at the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur. "I never imagined winning this tournament," Wong said. "I just like wanted to finish well. Winning it just really accomplished it, but since this is like a links course I guess I'm kind of used it playing in Australia." Wong used a local caddie all week, and she credited her father and family as big reasons she was able to get such a monumental victory. Although she's looking forward to turning pro down the road, she isn't in a rush to leave college and amateur golf behind. "I think my game is definitely heading in the right direction," Wong said. "But I think I'm planning to turn pro maybe after college. Just get my education done first." The 2026 Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific will be in Wellington, New Zealand.
Khaleej Times
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
UAE's top female trio ready to take on Asia's elite at Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be well represented at the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) Championship this week, with three of the country's top female amateurs set to compete at Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Vietnam. Intissar Rich, Hannah Alan, and Lara El Chaib will take on the region's best in the seventh edition of the championship, which was established by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to provide a platform for elite women's amateurs. The stakes are high, with the winner earning invitations to three Major championships—the AIG Women's Open, Amundi Evian Championship, and Chevron Championship—as well as prestigious events like the ISPS Handa Australian Open and Augusta National Women's Amateur. A Strong Contingent Intissar Rich heads into the tournament in fine form, having just won the Trump Ladies Open at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai. A regular fixture at the top of the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Order of Merit, she will be looking to carry that momentum onto the international stage. Joining her are two college golfers based in the United States. Hannah Alan, a freshman at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, is making her second WAAP appearance after competing in the 2021 edition in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Lara El Chaib, a freshman at Jacksonville State University, Florida, is set for her tournament debut, currently holding an NCAA ranking of 594. A New Venue, A Fresh Challenge This year's WAAP will be played in Vietnam for the first time, with Hoiana Shores Golf Club providing a true links-style test. Coastal winds, undulating fairways, and deep bunkers will challenge the region's best amateurs as they compete for a career-changing title. With Rich, Alan, and El Chaib carrying the UAE's hopes, all eyes will be on how they rise to the occasion on one of amateur golf's biggest stages.
USA Today
20-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
This mid-year enrollee beat the world's No. 1 amateur in a playoff for her first college victory
AI-assisted summary Eila Galitsky, an 18-year-old amateur golfer ranked 19th in the world, won her first college tournament at the Moon Golf Invitational. Galitsky, who enrolled early at the University of South Carolina, defeated the world's top-ranked amateur, Lottie Woad, with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Galitsky's victory marks a strong start to her college career, adding to her previous accomplishments, including low amateur honors at the 2023 Chevron Championship. Florida State University won the team title at the Moon Golf Invitational, with Wake Forest and South Carolina finishing second and third, respectively. If the name Eila Galitsky is familiar, it's probably from when she burst onto the golfing scene a couple years ago. The standout Thai junior won low amateur honors at the 2023 Chevron Championship and also won the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific. Ranked 19th in the Amateur World Golf Ranking, she's one of the game's best amateurs at just 18 years old. When Galitsky decided to enroll a semester early at South Carolina, it gave coach Kalen Anderson three top-20 players. Louise Rydqvist and Hannah Darling are standout seniors, but Galitsky is perhaps the Gamecocks' secret weapon this spring. Galitsky won her first college event in only her second start Tuesday, capturing the Moon Golf Invitational at Suntree Country Club in Melbourne, Florida. She did so by draining a 35-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to knock off the No. 1 amateur in the world, Florida State junior Lottie Woad. Galitsky shot 3-under 69 in the final round to get into the playoff, and now she has her first college victory in tow. Woad hasn't finished outside of the top 10 in almost two years in any amateur competition, and the reigning Smyth Salver winner and Augusta National Women's Amateur champ is one of the favorites to win the Annika Award this spring, given to college golf's most outstanding player. But Galitsky, who was 3 under in her final nine holes, chased down Woad to force a playoff, and then she buried the long birdie putt to emphasize her arrival to college golf. Florida State won the team title, finishing at 2 under, the only team under par. Wake Forest and South Carolina rounded out the top three.
