By Kent Gray
For a fresh reminder of where a strong performance in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP) might someday lead, the region’s best players need only rewind to last month’s Dubai Moonlight Classic.

Among the field at the Ladies European Tour event was Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, the winner of the inaugural WAAP in 2018.

Thitikul, who also finished runner-up to Yuka Yasuda in Japan two years ago, has already climbed inside the top 30 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking within a year of turning professional. She also just clinched the Race to Costa Del Sol, the LET Order of Merit, at the Saudi Ladies International.

Need further evidence? How about Filipino Yuka Saso and Thai Patty Tavatanakit, who were tied second and tied 15th respectively in the inaugural WAAP in Singapore, becoming major winners this year. Tavatanakit won the ANA Inspiration in April and 19-year-old Saso was the US Women’s Open champion in June.

All of which makes the 3rd edition of the WAAP, which returns to the international schedule at Abu Dhabi G.C. this week after it was cancelled last year because of pandemic-related restrictions, a tournament to watch.

Organised by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), WAAP has become the most important event in the region with the champion earning places in major two championships – the AIG Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship – as well as an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Among those to keep tabs on during the 72-hole strokeplay event on The National layout are the reigning Korean amateur champion Youmin Hwang, who is ranked 6th in the world, and Chinese players Xiaowen Yin and Lei Ye, ranked 9th and 13th respectively. Alia Al Emadi, Hannah Cheryl Alan, Hamad Alsuwaidi and Natalii Gupta are listed to represent the UAE.

Youmin Hwang. Photo by Korean Golf Association

It will be Hwang’s maiden WAAP appearance but she is well aware of the opportunity it presents. The 19-year-old has been in fine form this year, winning two amateur titles in her home country after an impressive T-4 finish while playing against seasoned professionals in the DB Group Korea Women’s Open in June.

“As a player, you always want to compete against the best players in the world. Playing the WAAP in Abu Dhabi will be an exciting challenge for me. I am looking forward to testing my game on a formidable golf course like Abu Dhabi Golf Club and in foreign conditions,” said Hwang.

“The rewards of winning the championship are incredible. To be able to play two major championships and have a possibility of playing a round at Augusta National Golf Club, I know every player will try extra hard to finish on top of the leaderboard.”

Yin has been in outstanding form ever since golf made a comeback in China following the first COVID-19 lockdown last year. Since August 2020, she has played 13 events and won eight of them, including three professional titles on the China LPGA Tour).  Her worst finish has been 9th place in a professional tournament on August 20. Last year.

“I was fortunate to be part of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2019 and I did well to finish tied 12th in Japan,” said Yin. “However, I know I am a much better all-round player now and it would be amazing if I can add to my victories in Abu Dhabi.”

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What: 3rd Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship
Where: Abu Dhabi Golf Club
When: Nov. 10-13

The post Why the WAAP at Abu Dhabi G.C. this week is a likely barometer of professional things to come appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The two Emirates Golf Federation (EGF)-backed teams – Mohamed Al Hajeri and Reema Al Heloo (UAE 2) and Rashid Al Emadi and Tara Al Marzooqi (UAE 1) – finished 34th and 38th respectively of the 38 teams representing 20 countries in the mixed gender Mitsubishi Corporation Cup tournament at Hong Kong Golf Club.

Al Hajeri and Reema Al Heloo produced the UAE highlights with scores of 78 (fourball), 82 (foursomes) and 77 and 95 respectively in the individual stroke play for a 332 aggregate. In 2016 the duo returned scores of 91-100-96-97 in Taoyuan City, Taiwan to finish on 384 — a massive 52 shot difference.

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Al Hajeri is making significant progress, highlighted by the 19 shot difference in his final round scores from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

However, the best performing UAE team still finished 52 over par for the week and a whopping 69 shots behind winners Yuki Ikeda and Yuka Yasuda (Japan No. 2) who signed for a -17 aggregate to win by seven strokes from Australia.

Al Emadi and Al Marzooqi, meanwhile, finished +115, 395 for the week, emphasising the gulf the UAE must gap at international level.  Al Marzooqi will be slightly disappointed that her individual score of 101 was two strokes worse than her effort in Taiwan 12 months earlier.

“We are happy to see improvement from our players this year and we met some of our goals,” said Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, EGF Secretary General and UAE National Team Captain.

“The more our young players play in championships like this, the more improvements we will see internationally and regionally.”

The post Mohamed Al Hajeri produces UAE highlight at eye-opening Asia Pacific Junior Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.