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Korea’s Oh Soo-min [THE R&A]<\/p>\n
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The region\u2019s top women amateur golfers, including Korea\u2019s Oh Soo-min, Malaysia\u2019s Jeneath Wong, Singapore\u2019s Chen Xingtong, Filipino Rianne Malixi and Thailand\u2019s Achiraya Sriwong, do not need to look far for inspiration when they reach the crossroads of deciding to turn professional.
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A glance at the final 2025 Women\u2019s World Golf Rankings and LPGA Tour points list reveals the same name at the very top, one that has been on the lips of everyone who follows the women\u2019s game closely.
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Thailand\u2019s Jeeno Thitikul was the standout performer last year, cementing herself as the planet\u2019s best women\u2019s golfer after a stunning rise, and fittingly, her roots trace back to the Women\u2019s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP), whose eighth edition tees off at Royal Wellington Golf Club in New Zealand on Thursday.
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Jeeno embodies the strength and depth of women\u2019s golf across Asia-Pacific. Seven players from the region sit inside the world\u2019s top 10, and 30 feature among the top 50. The bubbly Thai has often hailed the WAAP as the launchpad for a burgeoning career that already includes seven LPGA victories.
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The now 22-year-old Jeeno won the inaugural WAAP in Singapore in 2018 and finished runner-up in her title defense the following year. Now, a new generation of elite amateurs, including Korea\u2019s Oh Soo-min, hopes to follow in her footsteps.
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The highest-ranked player in this week\u2019s field at world No. 11 and a highly-touted golf phenom, Oh will be fired up to go one better after finishing second behind Jeneath Wong in last year’s WAAP in Vietnam. Interestingly, no Korean has won the event since it was inaugurated in 2018, despite the country demonstrating an unending talent pipeline in women\u2019s golf. Oh hopes to change that.
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\u201cMy goal is to win. I was runner-up last year, so my desire is even stronger this time. But rather than getting greedy, I want to focus on gaining good experience and enjoying the championship,\u201d said the 17-year-old Oh, who is a two-time Queen Sirikit Cup winner and the 2024 World Amateur Junior Girls Champion.
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![\"Jeneath](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/21d195b2-5936-418a-a9c0-35af77549856.jpg\"\/)
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Jeneath Wong of Malaysia poses with the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship trophy after victory during day four of The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP) at Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Hoi An, Vietnam on March 9, 2025. [WAAP]<\/p>\n
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The success of Jeneath Wong in delivering Malaysia’s WAAP title was hailed by many. The 21-year-old is also determined to advance her career into the play-for-pay ranks upon graduating from Pepperdine University in the U.S.
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\u201cGrowing up, I followed the championship closely and always saw it as one of the biggest goals for an amateur golfer in this region. Just qualifying to play was once a dream, so winning, it felt surreal. It shows young girls that pathways exist and big dreams are achievable,\u201d said Wong.
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\u201cPlayers like Jeeno are incredibly inspiring. Seeing someone start their journey at the WAAP and go on to achieve so much at the professional level shows what\u2019s possible. Her success motivates me to stay patient, work hard and trust the process as I continue developing my game. It\u2019s reassuring to see a clear pathway from amateur golf in our region to success on the world stage.\u201d
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Wong hailed the WAAP for providing elite amateurs with a clear route to the top, especially with the champion earning exemptions into several of the LPGA Tour\u2019s leading major championships and elite amateur events.
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\u201cThe WAAP has had a massive impact on women\u2019s golf in Asia-Pacific by creating opportunities and visibility for young female golfers. Growing up, I followed the championship closely and always saw it as one of the biggest goals for an amateur golfer in this region,\u201d she said.
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For Singapore\u2019s Chen Xingtong, the ambition is to turn professional after completing her tertiary education.
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Singapore’s Chen Xington [WAAP]<\/p>\n
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\u201cMy goal is to play on major tours like the LPGA and Ladies European Tour,\u201d said the 17-year-old, whose compatriot Shannon Tan, a WAAP alumna, went on to win last season\u2019s LET Order of Merit.
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\u201cThis championship is incredibly prestigious and an amazing opportunity for golfers like me to gain experience and exposure. The winner earns invitations to three majors and other elite events. It\u2019s something we all strive for.\u201d
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A total of 84 players from 26 countries will contest the WAAP, developed by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and The R&A to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region\u2019s elite women amateurs to the international stage.
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As Jeeno\u2019s success shows, the WAAP offers life-changing rewards. The winner earns exemptions into three major championships in 2026 \u2014 the AIG Women\u2019s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship \u2014 plus invitations to elite events including the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS HANDA Women\u2019s Australian Open, the Women\u2019s Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women\u2019s Amateur.
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The writer previously led marketing and communications for the PGA Tour and Asian Tour for over 20 years. He now runs his own sports PR consultancy. <\/p>\n