In a stunning display at the WAAP championship in Vietnam, 17‐year‐old Seo Jin Park battled gusty winds and soared to the top of the leaderboard on the opening day of the seventh edition.
Battling conditions that would have sent lesser mortals running for cover, Park carded a seven‐under-par 64 at Hoiana Shores Golf Club—six birdies and an eagle punctuating her round, with just a solitary bogey in tow.
The morning’s calm was a clear advantage for early starters, with fellow-Korean Hong Sumin, Australian Lion Higo, Japan’s Anna Iwanaga, Malaysian Jeneath Wong, and Hong Kong’s Arianna Lau all posting impressive 65s for a share of second place.
Out of a diverse field of 93 players from 24 countries, 34 managed to better par despite the later onslaught of blustery winds on this links-style layout.
However, not all tales on the course were written in triumph. Rianne Malixi of the Philippines—fourth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) and the pre-championship favourite—was forced to bow out early.
With a back strain curtailing her ambitions, she had to retire after being three-over through five holes. “I am incredibly disappointed to have to retire from the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific.
It’s a championship that I look forward to all year.I have a back strain and tried to compete, but unfortunately couldn’t continue. I wish all the girls the best of luck this week,” she lamented.
Amidst the drama, the elation on Park’s face told its own story. Even after a slight hiccup—a dropped shot on the ninth, the final hole—she couldn’t hide her joy. “I’m so happy and proud of myself.
I didn’t expect to be leading,” she admitted, a modest remark from a player ranked 281st in the WAGR®, making her the lowest-ranked among her six Korean compatriots.
Meanwhile, her fellow Koreans Seojin Park and Soomin Oh posted 68s, and with Malixi’s retirement, Oh (ninth in the WAGR®) has emerged as the top-ranked player from her country, eyeing the chance to become the first Korean to lift the WAAP trophy.
Competitors from Australia, Hong Kong, and Malaysia are similarly gunning for a historic first, all in a championship that offers life-changing rewards.
For Hong Kong’s Lau, who paired her 65 with Australian Higo’s equally sharp performance—Higo leading the charge for Australia just one shot ahead of Jazy Roberts—the pressure was palpable.
Reflecting on her round, Lau noted, “I didn’t expect to go this low. I didn’t really set any expectations in terms of the score.
I just tried to stay patient and trust my game.” Higo, one of only four players who managed to avoid dropping a stroke along with Roberts, Wong, and Iwanaga, added, “It was definitely a challenge out there, but I enjoyed it.
I got some lucky breaks with two really long putts going in on the par-3s and some lucky bounces with my drive, which definitely helped.”
Even as the afternoon winds picked up, players like Wong and Roberts delivered commendable rounds—65 and 66 respectively—with Roberts, making her third WAAP appearance, tallying five birdies, and Wong nailing crucial shots on the closing three holes.
New Zealand’s Eunseo Choi also found plenty to smile about. Her four-under-par 67, which she described as “pretty enjoyable,” was sweetened further by the news that her country will host the eighth edition of the championship next February.
“I’m very excited to play Royal Wellington and for this championship that I’ve really enjoyed playing to be hosted in my home country,” she said.
Among the local hopefuls, An Le Chuc stood out with the best score among the six Vietnamese competitors.
“This morning the wind was not too strong and I played better than I expected. It’s a pretty good start for me and hopefully I do the same or better tomorrow,” said Chuc, who recently attended the inaugural WAAP Academy in Thailand.
The day was also marked by memorable debuts—most notably from 12-year-old Bao Chau Nguyen, who had the honour of teeing off the championship.
Posting a respectable 77 and landing in joint 79th, her performance signals promise for the future.
On the other end, Australian Nadene Gole—the eldest competitor at 56 and last year’s winner of the R&A Women’s Senior Amateur and US Senior Women’s Amateur championships—found herself in a battle against the clock.
Although one-under and bogey-free through 12 holes, three bogeys and a double-bogey in her final six holes saw her finish at 75, in equal 67th place.
Developed by the APGC and The R&A, the WAAP championship in Vietnam is far more than just a tournament.
It’s a vibrant launching pad for the region’s elite women amateurs, offering the winner invitations to compete in three of this year’s major championships—the AIG Women’s Open, Amundi Evian Championship, and the Chevron Championship—as well as a host of other prestigious events including the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, the 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship, and, by tradition, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Supported by esteemed partners such as Rolex, ISPS Handa, Hoiana Shores Golf Club, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, New World Hoiana Hotel, Peter Millar, G Link Logistics, and Titleist, this championship is a celebration of talent, determination, and the ever-present drama that makes golf so endlessly captivating.
For more details on the WAAP championship in Vietnam, visit the championship website.
