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Womens Amateur Asia-Pacific
Three-stroke lead for Yunseo Yang at halfway stage of Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific
13 Feb 26
7 mins
Yunseo Yang wrote her name into the record books as she swept into a three-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the eighth Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP).
Defying heavy rain showers and warm, humid conditions, the 18-year-old Korean followed up an opening-day 64 with a five-under-par 67 at Royal Wellington. Yang’s 36-hole total of 13-under 131 bettered by one the previous best two-round score at the WAAP, shared by Chinese Taipei’s Chun-wei Wu in 2023 and Korean Sumin Hong last year. Bidding to become the first Korean winner of the region’s pre-eminent women’s amateur championship, Yang, 44th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR)®, finds herself in a commanding position heading into Saturday’s penultimate round. Her closest pursuers are fellow Korean Gyu Been Kim and Rianne Malixi, the 2024 US Women’s Amateur winner from the Philippines. Kim bounced back from a bogey at the second hole with eight birdies, including six in an eight-hole stretch beginning at the 7th hole. She signed for a best-of-the-day seven-under 65 – one shot better than Malixi. On a day that saw the powerful Korean contingent flex their muscles, Sumin Hong shot a 68 for a share of fourth place with Japan’s Ai Goto on 137, while Soomin Oh, runner-up last year, also returned a 68 that elevated her into joint sixth place on 138 alongside Australian Jazy Roberts, winner of the Women’s Australian Amateur Championship last week, and Thailand’s Prim Prachnakorn, individual gold medallist at the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Hong improved on her first-day 69 by one shot. In the process, she matched former WAAP champion Mizuki Hashimoto’s championship record of six consecutive rounds under 70. Out in the first group of the day at 10am when the rain was at its heaviest, Yang, who led by one overnight, birdied her opening hole, the par-five 10th, but dropped her first shot of the week at 12. She was bogey-free for the remainder of the round, making five birdies and narrowly missing numerous other presentable opportunities. Yang, who led by five shots at one stage of the afternoon, said: “I was a bit nervous at the start of the round and things didn't go exactly the way I wanted early on. But I focused on what I could control and good results followed. I tried my best to stay calm and composed. “My putting was solid again today. I managed my strategy well according to the pin positions, and the results were positive. That was the key to maintaining my score.”
Yunseo Yang delivered another excellent display at Royal Wellington on Friday
Putting was also the key to WAAP debutant Kim’s 65. "My putting was exactly how I wanted it to be. I made several putts from 12 to 15 feet and didn’t make any mistakes from within ten feet,” said the 16-year-old, who plans to attack in the final two rounds.
"This is my first time playing in the WAAP and also my first overseas championship and my first event of the year. Normally, I would try to manage the course more conservatively, but this time I’m going to play more aggressively," she vowed.
Making a record-equalling sixth appearance in the WAAP, Malixi showed her class with a controlled display, highlighted by a succession of sweetly-struck approach shots. She said, “I hit a lot of really good iron shots today – it was much better than yesterday. But I left a couple out there, so I know there’s a lot of room for improvement and I can shoot even lower. I don’t want to think about how far back I am. I just want to play my best golf, focus on my game, take it shot-by-shot.”
Hong Kong, China’s Arianna Lau, one shot off the pace in second place after round one, slipped to tied ninth on 139 following a 74, while Malaysian Jeneath Wong’s hopes of a successful title defence dimmed after a 73 left her in equal 23rd on 145.
She said: “Just as we were about to tee off it was heavy rain. You couldn't see anything and the tee box was flooding. But when the rain slowed down a little, the course dried quickly. But the weather and tough pin positions made it really hard.”
The halfway cut for the leading 50 players and ties fell at six-over-par 150.
Kaya Daluwatte (148) referenced her attendance at the WAAP Academy here last November as being among the factors in becoming the first Sri Lankan to make the cut at the championship.
She said: “I’ve played this championship for three years now, but previously I didn't play well enough to make the cut. My game is a lot better than it was last year and I’m very proud to make the cut. Coming here for the WAAP Academy and getting to see the course really helped.
“I hope to not be the only Sri Lankan to make the cut. Hopefully, many more in the future will make the cut at this lovely championship. We’re a small country and not many girls play golf in Sri Lanka. I'm one of the few. Hopefully, I can inspire more girls to play and take up the sport in Sri Lanka.”
Kaya Daluwatte's time at the WAAP Academy helped her become the first Sri Lankan to make the cut at the championship
To the delight of the home fans, seven of the 11 New Zealanders in the starting line-up have made it through to the weekend – Amy Tang and Eunseo Choi (both 145), Teresa Wang and Darae Chung (both 146), Vivian Lu and Caitlin Maurice (both 148) and Elise Barber (149), who at 13-years-old is the youngest player in the field.
Choi said: “I’d hoped to place a bit higher in the ranking, but tomorrow is moving day. As long as I just keep pushing forward and enjoy the game, I think I'll move up pretty well.”
For her part, Barber was elated after covering her final 12 holes in one-under. She said: “I don't know how to explain it. It's such a great feeling, especially when I thought after the first couple of holes I had no chance. I'm really impressed with myself for keeping my composure.”
The WAAP was developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region’s elite women amateurs to the international stage and the rewards on offer are significant. The champion will earn exemptions into three major championships in 2026, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, The Amundi Evian Championship in France and the Chevron Championship in the United States.
The WAAP is proudly supported by Rolex, ISPS Handa, Royal Wellington Golf Club, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Peter Millar, Titleist, Sparms, New Zealand Mercedes-Benz and Tongariro, as well as investment partners New Zealand Major Events and Wellington Council and host association Golf New Zealand.
Choi said: “I’d hoped to place a bit higher in the ranking, but tomorrow is moving day. As long as I just keep pushing forward and enjoy the game, I think I'll move up pretty well.”
For her part, Barber was elated after covering her final 12 holes in one-under. She said: “I don't know how to explain it. It's such a great feeling, especially when I thought after the first couple of holes I had no chance. I'm really impressed with myself for keeping my composure.”
The WAAP was developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region’s elite women amateurs to the international stage and the rewards on offer are significant. The champion will earn exemptions into three major championships in 2026, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, The Amundi Evian Championship in France and the Chevron Championship in the United States.
The WAAP is proudly supported by Rolex, ISPS Handa, Royal Wellington Golf Club, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Peter Millar, Titleist, Sparms, New Zealand Mercedes-Benz and Tongariro, as well as investment partners New Zealand Major Events and Wellington Council and host association Golf New Zealand.